DISCLAIMER: What I said in the last chapter, I don't own anything from Pokemon but my characters and ideas. ^^

Chapter 2: With the Strength of a Boulder

And as planned, I was on the road to becoming a gym leader. My dream, finally realized! But, all great legends and gym leaders alike had to start somewhere right? So I supposed that this was where they did, taking their tests to become qualified to be where they are now. And hey, I've got another cliche for you guys; Every great journey starts with one step. It's true, and I was about to take my first few.

"Alright I think I have everything. I'm leaving now, bro. I'm going to Pewter. It isn't that far away and I'll call you when i get there." I said to him on my way out the door. He was sitting in the house, on the couch, polishing his pokeballs that all the pokemon were in. You'd think he'd have the decency enough to take them out first before he cleaned the balls they lived in. And what's worse, he didn't even acknowledge me when I spoke to him. It's like I had to scream at him every time I wanted his attention.

"Hm? Oh yeah, cool whatever. Just go already." I looked at him, my cerulean eyes flickering with the lightest bit of wetness. I wasn't going to cry, he always did this to me. He was always a jerk, I just had to learn to live with it. I closed the door and started on my way, looking down at the ground as I walked. I would have been a lot better off if he had just acknowledged the fact that I was there!

…An Hour Later…

"Man… was the way to Pewter this long always? I don't remember it being this way last time. If I would have known I'd be out here forever, I would have just faced Misty first. At least she would have been right there. I'm from Cerulean." I whined as I walked, no, more like trudged, further on my way to Pewter City. That's when a voice called out to me. A slightly older sounding voice than my own. And it was a girl too.

"Hey, wait! Did you just say you were going to Pewter City?" I turned around and was met with a girl who looked to be about 2 years older than me, so 15 ish? She looked to have these chocolate brown eyes and dark brown hair. And she was definitely bulky looking, she obviously had some muscle to her. She looked to be a girl I didn't want to tamper with, or get angry.

"Yes." I answered meekly.

"Well mind if I tag along? I'm from Pewter and I had to go on a mission just now to get something from Pallet. Well the deed is all taken care of now and I'm on my way back. I was thinking we could go together since you're on your way?" She seemed to be harmless, despite what her muscle tone spoke of her.

"Sure, why not? I don't see why a little company would hurt." I smiled and she smiled, coming along with me. It was then decided that we should become better acquainted, after all, we were strangers at this point.

"I'm Mizuki by the way. What's your name?"

"I'm Aya. Nice to meet you Mizuki." She smiled even broader and we were back on the road to Pewter City. She seemed to be excited to be going back home and I was pumped for the match ahead of me to come. Brock, I'd faced him before and won, I should be able to do it again… right?

…Later When in Pewter…

"We finally made it." I gasped for air. I was out of shape, or made an example of being that clearly by standing next to Aya who was the fittest around it seemed. I really needed to run more.

"Yep. Here we are. Do you need me to show you around or where the gym is?" She offered before she was going to go her separate ways. I shook my head no, trying to gather enough breath to be able to speak.

"No I got it, thanks. I have to go face Brock, but I know where it is since I've already faced him before. I have my badge and everything. This is part of my test to become eligible to be a gym leader. If I pass, I get my dream. If not, then I don't. But, knowing the pokemon league officials and the professors who put this thing together there's going to be some penalty." I smiled weakly and she giggled.

"Yeah no doubt. Well I wish you luck with your test. I hope you have the strength enough to beat Brock. He is a tough one after all." I nodded and began to walk towards the gym, waving a goodbye to Aya, the nice girl I'd met on my way here. I wonder what kind of trainer she was, if she was one at all. And now was the moment of truth, well, kinda….

"Pewter City gym. Pewter City gym. It's been a while since I was here, but if I just go down this way it should be…" I smiled and my eyes widened as I spotted the building that was the familiar gym, I'd visited in the past when I first started my journeys. "Right there." I started on almost a dash walk to the doors of the gym. I opened it and the door squeaked open. As soon as it did the lights flickered on and the rows lit up as I walked down the rows. My eyes still found fascination with how that worked. And of course, upon the "throne" in the distance sat the gym leader, Brock. He smirked as he saw me approach.

"Why if it isn't Mizuki… I remember you. You put my rocks in the dust when you faced me. I was an easy win for you and all your water types." He chuckled, remembering when I was a bit younger than I was now.

"Yeah, well I'm back. Have you got the notification as to why I'm here?" He nodded.

"Yes, I have and all I have to ask is; Are you ready? It won't be as easy this time around." He blew up a pokeball in his hand to fit its complete size. I stepped into the challenger's spot once more feeling so nostalgic. My bag was placed on the ground and I picked one of the pokeballs off my belt and blew it up to fit my hand as well. I smirked.

"Of course. I was born ready."

"Alright then." He threw the pokeball and released a pokemon called Geodude.

"Geodude, how are you doing buddy? It's been a long time since I've battled you. Well, I have just the pokemon to send out now. I call out, Wartortle!" Wartortle appeared and growled intensely, ready for battle. Things were certainly getting intense at the moment and I could feel the ground beneath my feet become almost invisible. My nerves were starting to get to me, not good. Since when was I so nervous? Alright, calm down Mizuki, you can do this… you can do this!

"Are you ready for this Mizuki?" I nodded and he began to call out the attacks. "Alright then! Geodude use rock smash!" Geodude did as commanded and began to hurl rocks at my Wartortle. I needed to think fast.

"Wartortle! You need to dodge them! Quick dodge them and try using a skull bash attack on the Geodude!" Wartortle did just that and started on its dash towards the floating rock. Geodude remained where he was and didn't move, not even the impact moved him. Brock crossed his arms in satisfaction finding great amusement in what I thought would work. I however, opened my eyes with sheer surprise as to why it didn't. Had my strategy begun to go downhill this early in the battle?

"But why… why didn't…?" I questioned and he interrupted.

"Surprised Mizu? Geodude is a rock, a solid hard rock. Anything physical is not a smart idea. Why is this? Well you're smart, you should be able to figure that one all for yourself." He smirked.

"Duh! Because rocks are really really hard. And you can't break them with sheer strength from a physical attack. I should have thought of that before I used skull bash. Hey War, you okay buddy?" I called out to him and he shook off the dizziness that he was feeling, giving me a thumbs up. "Alright we're okay to give it another shot! This time I want you to fire a water gun at Geodude!" As I did that, Brock seemed to smirk again and Geodude dodged it without a command. Geodude began to deflect the water back at my Wartortle with almost all of its force by using one of the rocks he didn't throw as a shield. Now there was a ton of water being hurled at me instead of rocks…. great. I sighed. Was there any other surprises I wasn't ready for? Since when did Brock become such a strategist? He wasn't this hard to beat the last time I was here. It seemed every attempt I gave he was able to reverse on me. What was this guy's deal?

"Are you surprised Mizuki?" He asked again, satisfied with his display.

"You were holding back on me Brock! You didn't verse me with your full power and strategy like you are now!" I screamed at him. He chuckled. "I hardly see how this is funny!"

"You remind me of an old friend I used to have and I'll say the same thing to you that I did to her… You know for a water pokemon trainer, you're quite the hothead." He chuckled, finding amusement in his witty comment. I gave an unamused glare at him before finding myself out of options but to try to exploit his weakness by using both strategy and force. The type effectiveness would help, but I needed to improvise, it's not like I had any idea how to do what I needed to. I took a big breath in, alright here we go Mizuki!

"Alright Brock. You make the next move, I insist." I smiled. He looked intrigued.

"Alright but don't say I didn't warn you. Geodude, use Earthquake!" He brought out one of the heaviest attacks right away. This early? Luckily, I was prepared. He always did seem to favor that attack when things were in his favor. I smirked.

"Wartortle jump up in the air and avoid the Earthquake!" And he did just that as the Earth beneath us split open. "Alright now fill the cracks with water from a water gun! Put as much water in the cracks as you can buddy!" Wartortle began to squirt out a lot of water from his mouth and fill each and every crevice made by the Earthquake with his water. Brock seemed perplexed at all that was happening right now and too confused was he to fight, which was just my luck. When the water had settled into the cracks a bit, it was my turn to make this into my own game. "Alright Wartortle good boy! Now, swim underwater and make the water rise in a surf attack, fill this whole arena will water!" Wartortle went underwater and did as commanded, finding his water to rise enough to be thrown down at Geodude, flooding the whole arena with water. Now there was no escape for Geodude even if he wanted to. And he was soaking wet too, yes!

"Oh no Geodude! Are you alright?" Before Geodude was able to give an okay response, I commanded another attack from Wartortle.

"Go Wartortle use bubblebeam!" He spitted out some bubbles towards his opponent Geodude who was just barely managing to stay afloat in the air. The surf attack hit him pretty hard. And the bubblebeam was the thing that did him in. That was one pokemon down, only 2 more to go? He didn't set the parameter, but I began to celebrate. "Yes! Way to go pal! That's one down, now we have to defeat his others! Stay strong War!" He cried out his name healthily, even though there were signs he was beginning to get tired on his coat. Brock called back Geodude.

"Geodude, return. I have to say, that was an awesome tactic. And I'll spare you the extension of 3 pokemon. I think it would be better to go with the two on two. And so for this round, I'm going to send out… Onix! Is your Wartortle up to the task?" He smiled as the giant rock snake appeared and roared. I looked up with mere bits of fright in the gleams of my eyes. Onix was huge. I barely had a chance to gulp before he began to call out attacks from the humongous creature in front of me.

"Alright Wartortle, this one's gonna be tough. Get ready!" Wartortle readied himself for the upcoming battle ahead of us.

"Alright Onix! Let's start this off with a vice grip on Wartortle! Use your sheer strength to beat it!" Onix grabbed hold of a moving Wartortle in his last attempts to dodge his rock hard tail. But his attempts were all proven futile as soon as Onix grabbed him and began to crush him with the force and strength both of his rock body. Wartortle cried out in pain and was suffering up there. My eyes began to open in shock at what Brock was allowing to happen in his arena. This cruelty…

"Wartortle hang in there buddy! Try and wriggle your way out of his grip! I know you can do it! Try and loosen yourself with water!" As Wartortle tried to do that, all Onix did was roar again and tighten the gip of his tail squeezing around Wartortle's small little body. He yelled out in even more intense pain than before. He was being tortured and all for the sake of my winning this match. He truly did have a dedication to his master didn't he? Eventually, I watched as he was being crushed to bits and, couldn't take it anymore. Tears began to gather in my eyes as I clutched my fists tight and my eyes closed and yelled out almost as if I was going through the same pain Wartortle was at this very moment.

"Stop stop! Stop hurting him! Wartortle is too weak to continue this match. I'll send out my next pokemon, just stop it and let me call him back." I cried out pleadingly with Brock who smiled and allowed Onix to let go of my Wartortle into my arms. I cuddled him softly, kissing the top of his head and recalling him back into his pokeball. I stated in a the very whim of a voice I had left…

"You did well buddy, now rest. You deserve it. As for my second pokemon…" I began to search my belt for the right pokeball to use. What could stand up to the gigantism and the immense force of his Onix? It had to be someone who was able to go underground and use dig to avoid Onix. But then again, that might not be the best idea, seeing as how Onix is a ground type. Man. Think Mizuki, think. Starmie might be my best option at this point. He could use psychic, electric and water type attacks, but I ought to save Starmie for my match with Misty, or some of the tougher trainers to come. I cringed, what to do? What to do? I grabbed a pokeball at random and inflated its size. I took a deep breath, all improvisation right? I had to have faith in my pokemon. I called it out, whatever it could be.

"What are you calling out now?" He questioned.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Brock." I smirked and the light came out to form around a small stature. This would be my next pokemon. And it revealed to be…. Corsola! What the heck? Corsola? "What the heck Corsola? I…. guess I have to work with you now that you're out of your pokeball right?" I sighed.

"Not what you planned, huh? Well that's what you get for improvising. It's always better to have a set plan. For instance, I had a plan to use Onix from the start and it seems to be working for me! Pure strength is the way you need to go to make an enemy submit to your will. You called back Wartortle and because you're so distressed and relying on your innate feelings instead of your set plan. You're doomed to failure. But if you have a strong plan, you're going to win. It's a sure thing." He explained. So that was his secret to winning…. but what could I do with my little Corsola? Sure, she was cute and all, but how was she any match for Brock's Onix?

"Well if you say so Brock. I'm still gonna try my hardest to beat you!" I exclaimed.

"Alright give it your best shot! Onix… use rock throw!" And once more the pokemon opposing mine began to hurl rocks towards little Corsola. I really had to think on my toes for this one. I found myself commanding her to do the strangest things, but they were the first commands that popped into my head.

"Corsola! You need to get near Onix's head somehow. I want you to use the rocks he's throwing at you as a pathway and surf each one of them till your able to jump to the next and eventually get to his head!" Corsola nodded and began to jump on the flying rocks. She was growing ever closer to his head. Brock, again, seemed perplexed at my strange methods of battling and why all of a sudden I was having Corsola attack Onix's head. If she was in his face, she'd be at the greatest viewpoint to Onix, how was that helping my cause? Well, an idea began to form… luckily, here was my chance.

"What could she be doing now…? Onix don't stop throwing rocks at her, try and hit Corsola!" Onix did just that, careful not to hit me on the other side of the arena. But, it seemed no matter where Corsola was he couldn't get her. He was clearly becoming frustrated, and then he changed his attack pattern on me.

"Onix try a tail whip!" Onix tried to whack Corsola with his rock hard tail full of small boulders and though he missed a few times, eventually he got her. Corsola was flung back through the air and into a wall. It was only the impact from the wall that injured her, but otherwise, she was fine. In fact a part of Onix's tail had been cracked whacking Corsola since her skin was so hard. Onix cried out in pain as well as he realized a part of his hard rock tail was cracked. Brock found this unreal and soon Corsola was back on her feet. She wasn't going to give in that easily. That was my Corsola. I had hoped I trained her well enough to take on Brock.

"Alright Corsola, let's use your strength. Hit him with a strength attack, all the rocks you can gather to throw at him, do so." Corsola cried out her name and began to chuck rocks at the giant Onix in front of her. Onix did his best to whack them away from him, but some hit the giant stone snake. Great, now that was weakening him. "Corsola use a water gun but really blast him!" Corsola nodded and as fate would have had it, one of the rocks Onix whacked hit one of the sprinklers above our heads and it sent water raining down on the place, plus the water from Corsola's attack, Onix didn't stand a chance, but Onix was still hanging in there. "Alright he should be weak right now, go ahead and use a full force tackle Corsola!" Corsola hit the giant rock creature with all of her might and soon he fell, fainted. The battle was over and I had won!

"Onix, return." As the water continued to pour down on us in the arena. I smiled rejoicing in its feeling, hugging Corsola tightly and finding my limbs being almost broken by her rock hard skin. I giggled and she happily called out her name, cuddling with me as well. Brock approached us and smiled sincerely.

"I want to congratulate you on a job well done. You have managed to beat me again. You truly are an amazing trainer." I smiled and approached him as well, shaking his hand on a match well done, Corsola in the small distance on the ground from us, behind me.

"Thank you Brock, it was an honor battling with you again."

"You as well. Now I officially declare this gym for you, clear. I will print you a certificate certifying that you have completed all you can here with me. And you've also earned a medal, and a valuable piece of wisdom I want to pass on to you. Do you know what that lesson is?" He asked curiously.

"No, unfortunately I don't know that." He smiled.

"The Lesson of Strength. You came in here, unsure and nervous. I could see it in your body language. But you still had the guts to take me on, especially when you were on the short end of the stick. You defeated Geodude pretty quickly, but then I brought out Onix and you were at a loss when your first pokemon was defeated. You had to improvise and find a way around the giant size of Onix to beat him. And you did just that even when you surprised yourself with Corsola. You had the strength to call out when Onix was hurting Wartortle too much. You had the strength to rush in to battle with a pokemon you were unsure about. And you're a very strong girl in general Mizuki. You were clearly anxious but you stood in the face of your anxiety and hit the obstacle head on. That's strength if I've ever seen it. You're just like one of my rock team, Mizuki, so I'm proud to present you with this medal." He smiled and handed me the medal designed with a small rock symbol on it and on the top it read 'Pewter City Gym'. I smiled as I received it from his gentle hands and took it into mine. The joy I was experiencing right now was insurmountable.

"Wow thank you Brock. I … I really don't know what to say." I couldn't really complete a coherent sentence besides the one I just said. So many different thoughts were clashing together inside my mind, it was unbelievable almost.

"You don't have to say anything. But I will say this to you, good luck on your test and your journey alike. I know you can do it." He nodded meaningfully and I began to turn and go, collecting Corsola in her pokeball again.

"Thank you Brock! I'll be sure to visit you sometime!" I called out to him as I exited the gym. I placed the medal in my bag so I wouldn't lose it and placed the bag back on my back. Okay that was one gym down, now I just needed to beat everyone else all over again. Back to Cerulean I go! I have to beat Misty now…

On my way out of Pewter City though, a voice caught my attention in the pathway I was leaving behind me. It was Aya.

"Hey!" She called out to me. "So, how did your match with Brock go?" I smiled and took out the medal and showed her.

"See for yourself." I smiled proudly.

"Awesome. So I take it you won." She congratulated me. I nodded.

"Yep I did. And he taught me a valuable lesson I am going to take with me all the way on this journey. I just hope I can do it." I stated with a breath of joy. I placed the medal back in my bag and zipped it up. Aya looked like she had something on her mind though.

"Uh, not to bother you or anything Mizu, but … I sorta have a question for you." I looked at her curiously. "Well, there's not much to do here in Pewter and over the past few days I've been kinda bored and well, I was wondering if I could come along with you on your journeys. You know, I think that it would be fun and, you seem like a really cool friend." She seemed genuine. I blinked.

"Well if you want to, sure that's fine with me. Don't know what satisfaction you'd get out of coming along with me on this test though. But making a new friend, I'm always up for." I smiled and welcomed her to Team Mizuki. And so it was decided, we started on our way out of the gates, mumbles of our conversation fading out as we headed back towards my hometown. My next goal; Misty.