"You want to do what?"
"I want to take on the gym," Shauna repeated.
Kisai wondered why she would want to challenge the gym. She didn't even though what she wanted to do a few days ago. Kisai then remembered what Shauna's goal was.
"You want to be stronger," Kisai said.
"Yes, I know the best way to get stronger is by challenging gyms."
Kisai shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't her right to input on this. If Shauna wanted to do this she should do it.
"Go for it."
A smile formed on Shauna's face. She grabbed Kisai's hand and the two headed towards the Santalune City's gym. Once inside the girls were greeted by a man.
"Welcome trainers to the Santalune-"
"Yeah, yeah," Kisai interrupted. "Where's the gym leader at?"
"You must be really excited about challenging the gym," the man laughed. "Just slide down this pole and it will send you to the leader's maze."
"Leader's maze?" Shauna questioned.
"Yes, every leader has their own maze that the challenger must go through. The challenger must also battle any trainer that they see."
"I see," Shauna said.
Shauna walked up to the pole. She took a deep breath before sliding down. Kisai was right behind her. The pole stopped in the middle of the air. Shauna managed to stop herself, but Kisai kept sliding. The two girls crashed into each other and landed on a giant web.
"What is this?" Shauna asked.
She touched the web with her hand. The web was was sticky enough so that they couldn't fall off, but they could still pick up their feet. Since she was the challenger, Shauna was in front trying to navigate through the giant web. It seemed like what the man said about there being gym trainers were true.
"The name David and I challenge you to a battle!" a young boy yelled.
"Good luck Shauna," Kisai cheered.
"Thanks."
"Let's go Ledyba!" David yelled.
Ledyba was a Pokémon that looked very similar to a ladybug. Shauna knew it was a bug type based on its looks. Kisai still took out her book since she recognized the Pokémon.
"Ledyba is a bug and flying. Chespin wouldn't be a good choice."
"Got it. Skitty come on out!"
David VS Shauna
"Skitty use Fake Out!"
"Well Ledyba you use Tackle!"
Ledyba dashed towards Skitty. The normal type stood there for a second before disappearing. She reappeared an inch away from Ledyba. Skitty clapped her paws together with Ledyba's face in the middle. Ledyba couldn't finish his attack because he was afraid that Skitty would do he again.
"Alright Skitty now use Sing!"
"Counter with Supersonic!"
Skitty started to sing a song that only Ledyba could understand. Even though the song could only understand by Pokémon, the trainers could feel themselves get a little tired. Ledyba reaction to this was to send out sound waves that could confuse Skitty if it landed.
"How?" Kisai questioned.
She knew that both attacks had low accuracy, but for some reason both Pokémon managed to hit their target. This was something that Kisai had never seen before. She pulled out a pencil and started to write notes about the battle.
"Snap out of it Skitty!" Shauna yelled at the confused normal type.
"Wake up Ledyba!" David yelled. His yelling wasn't enough to wake the sleeping bug.
"Tackle him Skitty!" Shauna ordered.
Skitty could do it since the confusion was too strong. She started slamming her head on the wooden floor that they were playing on. Kisai turned her head so that Shauna couldn't see her giggling. A few feet away from Skitty, Ledyba was still asleep.
"Skitty please listen to my voice!" Shauna called out.
"Skit?" Skitty questioned.
"If you understand me then use Tackle!"
Skitty did as she was told this time. Kisai wondered if it was Shauna's voice that snapped her out of the confusion or did she do it herself. None of it mattered to Shauna since this caused her to win the battle. The Ledyba was being called back to his Pokéballs by David. He sighed and walked away. They assumed to the Pokémon Center.
"Onwards to the next trainer," Kisai said.
Two trainers and a few minutes later
Shauna had just beaten the last trainer that stood in her way. After using a few potions, she stood in front of Viola. Kisai was right behind her. Deciding that she wanted the cheering squad to be louder, Kisai sent out Fennekin and Scatterbug.
"Let's cheer loudly for them ok guys."
"Fen," Fennekin nodded.
"Scatterbug! Scatter!" Scatterbug yelled. He felt a little embarrassed about cheering.
"Are you my challenger?" Viola asked.
"Yes ma'am," Shauna answered.
"Wait a minute, I remember now you and your friend are the ones that was trapped in the forest."
"That's right," Kisai replied.
"But that's not important right now," Shauna said. "What's important is our battle."
Viola smiled. She took out her camera and took a picture of Shauna. This freaked her out a little.
"W-what are you doing?" she questioned. "I'm not ready to take a picture."
"Sorry," Viola apologized. "It just that when I see a trainer that I can sense will give me a good battle I have to take a picture of them."
"Just warn me next time."
"Will do."
"So are you guys gonna battle anytime soon?" Kisai questioned.
"Oh yeah," Viola said sheepishly. "This will be a two on two battle and you are the only one who can exchange Pokémon. You understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Surskit it's your time to shine!"
"Chespin I choose you!"
Shauna sent out her starter Pokémon. The grass type did a couple of stretches before getting into fighting position. Viola sent out a bug that looked like it could lived next to the water. The blue Pokémon kept moving around. Kisai pulled out her book once again to look the Pokémon up.
"Surskit is a bug and water type," Kisai said. "Watch out for those types of attacks."
"Alright," Shauna replied.
"Surskit use Bubble!" Viola commanded.
"Counter with Vine Whip!"
Surskit started to blow out multiple bubbles from her mouth. All of them were aimed at Chespin. In response to this, Chespin grew out two vines from her back. She popped each of them with ease.
"Go Shauna! Yay Chespin!" Kisai cheered.
"Fennekin! Fen!" Fennekin yelled.
"Bug," Scatterbug mumbled. He was currently hiding behind Fennekin.
"I see that Bubble won't do any so how about this. Quick Attack!"
Surskit dashed towards Chespin with amazing speed. Her speed caught both Shauna and Chespin off guard. Chespin flew back when the attack made contact with her.
"I didn't even have time to react," Shauna said to herself.
"Quick Attack again!"
"Vine Whip!"
Surskit once again flew across the field. In order to stop the attack, Chespin used her vines to stop Surskit. Shauna realized it wasn't going to work. Surskit was dodging the attack with ease.
"Chespin use Growl!"
Chespin took a deep breath. When she decided that Surskit was close enough, Chespin let out a powerful growl. The loudness caused Surskit to trip. This was their opening.
"Chespin use Vine Whip then Tackle."
Chespin didn't use her vines to attack Surskit like the last few times. She instead grabbed Surskit's skinny front legs.
"Oh no!" Viola yelled.
Chespin dashed towards Surskit. She was no where near close to Surskit's speed, but had more power. Chespin slammed herself into the blue bug. After a few minutes of not responding, Viola return Surskit to her Pokéball.
"You did your best," Viola said.
"Hey, Chespin come back. I want you to have a rest."
"Pin," Chespin replied.
She walked back to Shauna. Instead going back to her Pokéball, Chespin decided to sit down next to her trainer. Shauna looked back at Viola and nodded her head to show that she ready.
"Go Vivillon!" Viola yelled.
"Just a little more Skitty!"
Viola's Pokémon was something that Kisai never seen before. Vivillon looked similar to a certain bug type that Kisai seen back home. She opened her book to an empty page, so she could write down everything she sees the flying bug do. Kisai glanced over to Scatterbug. The small bug was watching the colorful Pokémon with interest.
"I wonder," Kisai thought to herself.
"Ready for round two?" Viola asked.
"Of course," Shauna replied.
"Good. Vivillon use Harden."
Vivillon's body turned to steel for a quick moment. Shauna assumed that Vivillon's defense had gotten stronger. Skitty looked back at Shauna for directions.
"Alright Skitty go ahead and use Sing!"
"Fly up higher Vivillon!"
Skitty started to sing her sweet song from earlier. Unlike last time, the attack didn't reach her target. Vivillon was up to high. She couldn't hear the song.
"Nice try," Viola said. "Vivillon use Infestation!"
Vivillon's eyes started to glow. A noise could be heard by the group. Fennekin placed her head on the ground to hear it better. It seemed to be coming from the floor. It was then out of nowhere hundreds of little black bugs came out from the floor and attacked Skitty.
"Skitty!" Shauna yelled.
"Gross," Kisai commented.
"If you're not gonna counterattack I'm not gonna stop," Viola said. "Tackle!"
Vivillon flew towards Skitty. She slammed into the normal type. The bugs that attached themselves to Vivillon didn't seem to bother the bug type. Skitty couldn't fight off the little black bugs and Vivillon. Shauna tried to return the Pokémon, but it seemed like Skitty couldn't return until the bugs were gone.
"Tackle!" both trainers yelled.
Both Pokémon lunged at each other. Neither wanted to admit defeat, but the black bugs were slowly chipping away at Skitty's health. Skitty couldn't win the match and it didn't. The third time that the two Pokémon collided Skitty fell down and wouldn't get up.
"Good job Skitty," Shauna said as she returned the normal type. "It's all up to you Chespin."
"Chespin!"
Chespin ran out to the field. The little black bugs disappeared once Skitty went unconscious. The two of knew however that they would come out if Vivillon ever needed them.
"Come on guys we have to cheer even louder for them right now," Kisai said.
"Fennekin!"
"Scatterbug!"
"Let's start this off right," Viola said. "Infestation!"
"Roll Out!"
Vivillon's eyes started to glow again. The group could hear the bugs coming. Not wanting to face the same fate as her teammate, Chespin curled up into a ball. She started to roll towards Vivillon. Right before the bugs came out of the floor, Chespin jumped into the air. Chespin managed to hit Vivillon out of the air.
"Vivillon!" Viola cried.
"Alright! Alright! Alright! Chespin managed to dodge the bugs and do some damage! Kisai cheered.
Fennekin shot out little bits of fire out of happiness. Scatterbug wiggled his body to show his pleasure.
"The best thing about this move is that it is locked in until the move misses," Shauna explained.
"Well we're not gonna give up that easily," Viola said. "Vivillon, you use Tackle!"
Vivillon and Chespin kept bouncing off of each other. Viola soon realized that after every clash Chespin's power seem stronger. The reason behind this was each time the move landed it's attack the power of the move would increase.
"Don't stop now Chespin!" Shauna yelled.
Chespin rolled into Vivillon one last time. The bug couldn't get up after the last attack. Vivillon fell unconscious on the floor. Viola returned her partner to her Pokéball before walking up to Shauna.
"Hooray! She did it!" Kisai yelled.
Fennekin couldn't blew out more fire from her mouth while Scatterbug ran around in circles. The trio were celebrating the victory in their own special way.
Shauna smiled at her their goofiness. Shauna was currently holding Chespin in her arms. She was as checking to see if she had any unseen injuries.
"You did amazing," Viola complemented.
"Thank you Miss. Viola. You did amazing too."
"Here. This shows that you have successfully defeated me in battle."
Viola handed Shauna a badge that looked similar to a bug. She pin the badge on her shirt.
"It's called the Bug Badge. I also want to give you this. It's the TM for Infestation use it wisely."
"Thank you ma'am. I will."
"The exit is in the back. Good luck on your journey."
"Will do. Come on Kisai."
"Right behind you."
The two girls and their Pokémon walked out of the gym. It seemed later in the afternoon. They decided that after a quick stop at the Pokémon Center that they would head to the next city.
"Lumiose City here we come!" Shauna yelled.
"Someone pump," Kisai said.