CHAPTER THREE: FIRST GYM BATTLE

Andrew and Dawn walked on to the route connecting Jubilife City and Oreburgh City. A cool breeze was in the air, shaking the grass and causing ripples in the pond.

Andrew battled youngsters Michael, Dallas, and Sebastian, and lasses Kaitlin and Madeline. Their Pokemon were no match for Andrew's. He mopped the floor with their Bidoof, Starly, Kricketot, Budew, Machop, and Zubat using Chimchar and Starly.

Since there were mostly Pokemon she had already seen and caught, Dawn took forever searching the tall grass for a rare Pokemon. She finally managed to catch one, an Abra.

"Abra is a pretty cool Pokemon," Andrew noted.

"I know," Dawn agreed, "but the problem is that it only knows teleport. You can't exactly win battles without using moves that hit the foe."

"Right, but you could always have Abra gain experience by using the bait and switch strategy."

"Maybe…"

The two walked through the Oreburgh Gate. There were many rock Pokemon that Dawn defeated with Piplup. She caught a Geodude and surprisingly a Psyduck.

"What's a Psyduck doing here?" Dawn wondered.

"There's an underground lake, that's why!" Andrew called.

He battled with Camper Curtis and Picnicker Diana, using Chimchar to quickly defeat their Shinx, Budew, and Psyduck.

"Maybe I'll catch a Budew," Dawn said.

"Yeah, it's kind of cute," Andrew said. "It suits you."

Dawn stopped in her tracks, while Andrew kept walking, almost out of the path, and almost into a group of wild Zubat.

"Piplup, Bubble!" Piplup's bubble hit all of the Zubat, knocking them all out except one.

"Come on, all 203 Pokemon," Andrew reminded Dawn.

"Fine," she grumbled and threw a Poke Ball at Zubat.

"I am never using you in battle," Dawn told it as she picked up the Poke Ball.

"Hey, that's not nice," Andrew said. "What did that poor Zubat do to you?"

"Nothing, I just hate Zubat. They're so annoying!"

"Maybe if you use it, it won't be annoying."

"Him," Dawn corrected. "My Pokedex shows that my Zubat is a boy."

Andrew smiled at her. "Come on, let's go see this mining town."

The two exited Oreburgh Gate and entered Oreburgh City.

It was a vibrant and energetic mining town. There was a Pokemon Gym in the center of town, surrounded by the houses of mine workers. A Poke mart was near the gym, and the Pokemon Center was near the Oreburgh Museum.

"First things first," Andrew stated, "the gym."

Andrew and Dawn walked up to the gym and were about to open the door when someone walked out.

"Hey Nico," Andrew tried playing nice.

"Hello," Nico replied. "Are you looking for Roark?"

"Yes, I am."

"It looks like you're late again," Nico chuckled. "You just missed him. Roark left to the mines for his shift."

"Well…do you want to battle while we wait for him?"

"I already got my badge," Nico said. "And my Pokemon are pretty weak right now. How about a rain check on that battle?"

Andrew nodded, "Sure."

He was actually kind of glad that Nico declined. He was afraid of losing to Nico. Andrew didn't want to look even more incompetent in Nico's eyes.

"Why don't we go to the Pokemon Center?" Dawn suggested. "We all need to heal our Pokemon."

Andrew gave Dawn a sideways glance that said, "What are you doing?"

Dawn didn't really know why she opened her mouth. Obviously there was a tense relationship between Andrew and Nico but there was something about Nico that made her want to get to know him.

"Uh, sure," Nico said. "Who are you again?"

"I'm Dawn, Professor Rowan's assistant."

"Right, sorry I forgot. He has a bunch."

"Yeah…it's alright."

The three healed up their Pokemon in the Pokemon Center.

"Why don't we check out the Oreburgh Museum while we wait for Roark?" Andrew suggested.

"Sounds good," Dawn said. "Do you want to come Nico?"

Nico shook his head. "Sorry, but my Pokemon and I need to train to get tougher. My battle with Roark was too close."

"Alright then, see you around," Andrew told Nico.

He and Dawn walked into the Oreburgh Museum.

The Oreburgh Mining Museum was a large building that contained various displays and attractions about coal mining. There were many exhibits with facts about coal.

Andrew and Dawn traveled to the back of the museum where they saw a door that said: No Entry For Unauthorized Personell.

"Wonder what's in there."

"No." Dawn looked at Andrew straight in the face. "Don't even think about it."

Andrew opened the door and walked inside. "Cover me."

"You are such an idiot."

Andrew walked into a long hallway. He peered inside several rooms. It appeared as though scientists were conducting tests on Pokemon fossils.

"So cool!" Andrew muttered.

He quickly exited.

"Come on, let's get out of here before anyone notices," Andrew said to Dawn, who nodded in agreement.

"Let's see if Roark is still at the mine," Dawn said.

The two walked south of Oreburgh City to the mines.

"Have you seen Roark?" Andrew asked a miner.

"He just got done with his shift. The kid's a good gym leader. His rock Pokemon are sturdy and powerful. I'd suggest you train a lot more if you don't have any water or grass Pokemon."

Andrew decided to go train on Route 207. There were less rock type Pokemon there. Andrew trained Chimchar and Starly against wild Kricketot and Machop. Since Starly learned Wing Attack, he was able to easily defeat Machop and Cimchar took care of Kricketot with his Flame Wheel.

After defeating the tenth Kricketot in a row, Chimchar became enveloped in a white light.

"Chimchar is evolving!" Andrew grinned.

"It evolved into a Monferno," Dawn gathered data for her Pokedex.

Monferno's hand glowed white, and it punched the air.

"That's Mach Punch," Dawn explained.

"Now I think we're ready to take on Roark," Andrew smiled.

Andrew and Dawn returned to the Pokemon gym.

Two youngsters stood on the rocky steps that led to Roark.

"Hello, Challenger!" Roark called. "You'll have to prove your worth to face me by battling my students!"

Andrew nodded. "Will do," he stated adamantly.

The two youngsters had a Geodude and one had an Onix. Andrew's Monferno made quick work of them with Mach Punch.

Andrew ran up the rocky stairs to meet Roark.

"Welcome, I'm Roark, the Gym Leader! I'm but one Trainer who decided to walk proudly with Rock-type Pokémon! As the Gym Leader, I need to see your potential as a trainer. And, I'll need to see the toughness of the Pokémon that battle with you!"

"I'm ready to battle."

"Alright, go Geodude!"

"Go Monferno!"

Roark's eyes twinkled behind his glasses. He gave Andrew a smug smile.

"Monferno, Mach Punch!" Monferno's hand glowed white and he punched Geodude, knocking it out.

"Your Monferno is fast," Roark noted.

"Go Onix!" Roark sent out the rock, snake-like Pokemon.

"Mach Punch!"

"Screech!" Onix was faster than Monferno and screeched loudly at Monferno, lowering his defenses.

Monferno's Mach Punch managed to hit Onix. It collapsed to the ground, weak and barely standing.

"Rock Throw!" Onix launched a small rock from its body at Monferno, knocking it down. It was a super effective move, as fire types were weak to rock types.

"Mach Punch!" Monferno knocked Onix out.

Roark smiled. "Think you can take down my next Pokemon like you did the others?"

"Of course!" Andrew bravely claimed. He had doubts believing his claim, and it showed in his voice.

Roark sent out his final Pokemon, "Cranidos!" It was a blue dinosaur-like Pokemon.

"Cranidos, Headbutt!" Cranidos rammed its head into Monferno head on.

"Mach Punch!" Monferno managed to critically hit Cranidos.

"Zen Headbutt!" Cranidos' head glowed, and it head butted Monferno to the ground.

Monferno looked like he was on his last legs. Then all of a sudden, his eyes flashed red and he became surrounded by fire.

"That's Monferno's special ability Blaze," Andrew muttered. "It would be better to use a fire type move now that his fire type moves are charged up."

"Zen Headbutt!" Cranidos charged at Monferno but he overshot and barely missed hitting Monferno.

"Flame Wheel!" A huge amount of flames from his tail surrounded Monferno and he rolled like a wheel, knocking Cranidos to the ground and flinging up dust and dirt.

When the dust cleared, Monferno was barely standing.

"You did amazing!" Andrew hugged Monferno and returned him to the Poke Ball.

"This is embarrassing... I went and lost to a Trainer who didn't have a single Gym Badge... But that's tough. You were strong and I was weak. That's all there is. According to Pokémon League rules, I have to give you our Gym Badge since you've beaten me, the Leader. Here's your official Pokémon League Coal Badge. In this region of Sinnoh, there are seven other Gym Leaders. I should warn you — they're a lot tougher than I am!"

"Thanks Roark," Andrew smiled. "So where should I go from here?"

"I would say Eterna City. You have to go through Floaroma Town and the Eterna Forest, but it's worth it for a town with rich history and a strong gym leader."

"You did great!" Dawn hugged Andrew.

"Thanks, now I should give Monferno a rest."

Andrew and Dawn spent the rest of the day at the Pokemon Center.

Nico walked inside and stood in front of Andrew. He was wearing a white tank top and shorts, his skin sweaty and his clothes covered in dirt.

"I finished training, my Pokemon are being healed right now."

"Cool, I got the Coal Badge from Roark."

"Good job. I guess I'll have to work harder so you won't keep up with me."

"What do you want, Nico?" Andrew asked exasperated.

"I was wondering if that rain check still applied. My Pokemon are a lot tougher than earlier."

"Good, so are mine."

"Let's battle when we get our Pokemon back."

"You're on!"