I'm back! Sorry about the late update... here's the chapter!

Chapter VII:

When we arrived back at Brock's house, I immediately wanted to challenge Forrest, but Brock had quickly shot down the idea.

"You need you're sleep Scarlet." He had sternly ordered. "Forrest isn't a pokemon trainer you can expect an easy win from."

I disagreed. I just KNOW that Growlithe, Buizel and I can win. I just have this feeling! So for the rest of the night, I couldn't sleep. Around one o'clock, I got up and left the living room couch I had been sleeping on, and careful not to wake Growlithe and Nathan, I opened the back door to the house and sat outside on the deck.

I sighed, taking in the scenery.

There was a large garden with beautiful flowers that seemed to sparkle in the moonlight, and there was a large cherry blossom tree that was drooped over the garden. I saw a peaceful family on Hoothoot in the tree sharing a meal of berries, and I sighed, feeling homesick.

I missed how my Dad would come home from work with Pikachu on his shoulder, restless and complaining about something ninety percent of the time. I missed the way my mom would laugh and kiss his cheek to get him to stop whining, and how Austin and I would run up to give him a hug, then beam and play with his mouse pokemon. I missed my little brother most of all though, and I wondered if he was holding up okay without me.

While I was thinking, I heard the back door open, and I turned around in alarm, only to relax and sigh. "Oh, it's only you. What are you doing up?"

"I could ask you the same thing Scar." Nathan chuckled, and I glared at him.

"Quit calling me that. And if you came up here to tease me, you can stop, because I'm not in the mood." I pointedly spun back around, staring up at the cherry blossom tree again.

Nathan snickered, and walked forward until he was standing beside me. "I take it you are worried about tomorrow?"

"Honestly, not really. I know Growlithe and Buizel can do anything if they put there mind to it." I didn't make eye contact with him, fearing he would see how homesick I really was.

"Wow, I admire that. I'm already worried about my first contest, and it's not even until a few days from now!" Nathan beamed, and I turned to him in surprise. "You're worried? Someone call a doctor!" I teased, pushing his shoulder gently.

Nathan just smiled, before it faltered and he looked down. "I just want to live up to my parents expectations. They are so great at contests... what if I suck?"

"I know what you mean. I want to be just as great as my Mom and Dad, but I'm so scared I'll never make it." I whispered, and looked down as well.

After a few moments of silence, we both spoke. "I really miss my family." We mumbled simultaneously, and looked up in surprise at each other before grinning and laughing.

"We are going to see them soon Nathan." I smiled. "Cerulean city isn't far from here, and then we can go straight to Vermillion to see you're parents!"

Nathan beamed. "Sounds like a plan. But we better get some sleep, or you wont be able to focus tomorrow!"

I nodded. "I guess you're right."

"Aren't I always?" Nathan snickered, and I glared at him before returning to my couch for the night.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

The next morning, I had sprung awake and gotten ready as quick as I could. Growlithe looked confused as I pranced around in excitement, laughing and smiling.

"Hey Scarlet, how old are you anyways." Nathan snickered from his place beside Bryce and Brock, who was also looking rather amused.

"Don't mock her, it's in her blood. Ash was fifty times worse about Gym Battles anyway." He beamed, placing food for the four of us on the table. As we all sat down to eat, I saw Brock pat Growlithe on the head and hand him a plate of food.

"Hmm. Brock, do you think it's to much trouble to feed our other pokemon as well?" Nathan asked, and Brock smiled. "Of course not, let them out and I'll grab some more bowls."

I beamed and grabbed Buizel's pokeball, tossing it. The weasel appeared in it's usual cross position, but instead of a scowl, he was beaming.

"Hey buddy!" I beamed. "Go ahead and join Growlithe, you're food will be here in a minute."

Nathan reached for his pokeballs as well, "You too guys!" He smiled, releasing Mudkip and Wurmple.

Bryce smirked from beside Nathan. "Hey, maybe Larvitar can meet your pokemon. Rhyhorm already ate anyways. He grabbed a pokeball from his belt and tossed it, and the green rock skin pokemon appeared, and upon seeing four pokemon with us, he cocked his head and frowned.

"Larvitar, these are the pokemon you helped save yesterday. How about you have breakfast with them?" Bryce smiled encouragingly.

Shrugging, the rock pokemon waddled up to the four pokemon and nodded. Growlithe yipped in welcome, and Mudkip and Wurmple followed shortly. Buizel however looked uncertain, until the rock pokemon shuffled over to him and raised its hand in hello.

Buizel looked at him for a moment, and smiled, letting out a happy cry back at him.

"Phew thank goodness. It's about time Larvitar started looking at other pokemon as friends and not foes." Bryce chuckled, and I raised my eyebrow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Larvitar was my first pokemon, and I found him when he was being attacked by a group of angry Zubat. He isn't very trusting." Bryce sighed, fixing his vest.

"That's unfortunate." Nathan mumbled, and I nodded.

Brock soon came back with a few more bowls of pokemon food, which the five pokemon chowed down in excitement. We ate our breakfast as well, and I have to admit, it was awesome.

"This breakfast is great!" I smiled through my fifth bite. "Who made it?"

Bryce tentatively raised his hand. "Me."

Nathan beamed. "It's awesome Bryce! I wish we could have you around all the time."

Finishing my food, I slowly got up from the table. "Uncle Brock, is Forrest in the Gym? I would be lying if I said I can't wait to battle him."

Brock laughed and got up as well. "Understandable. I guess we can go now then."

We called our pokemon to return, and the four of us walked down the streets of Pewter, heading towards the Gym.

"Are you ready to go Growlithe?" I beamed at my puppy pokemon, who barked in determination. "Good. Depending on what pokemon Forrest uses, I may have to use you."

Nathan tapped his chin. "Forrest is a rock type gym leader isn't he. That means he must be using a rock type pokemon. Maybe Buizel would be a better choice."

Growlithe looked a little saddened for a moment, and I turned to look at my pokemon. "Hey buddy don't worry. If worse comes to worse I am going to rely on you to help me out."

Growlithe looked a little happier at that, but still uncertain as we arrived to the large building with a brown pokeball on it. Pewter Gym. My first gym battle awaited me.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Growlithe, who barked in anticipation and together we raced inside.

The gym battle field was a rocky terrain, with a hastily drawn square to signal the boundaries. There were a variety of large boulders in some areas, and smaller rocks all around.

Forrest was waiting for us, standing on his panel opposite to mine, and he smiled upon seeing me.

"Alright are you ready Scarlet? We each can use one pokemon each." He beamed, reaching for a pokeball on his belt. "Brock will be the referee."

I nodded and turned to see Nathan and Bryce smiling at me encouragingly. Nathan even flicked his hair out of his eyes and smirked, "Hurry up so I can win my contest." which both irked me and made me more confident at the same time.

Arrogant contest boy.

"I'm ready Forrest!" I shouted confidently, and Growlithe barked in determination beside me.

"Alright Steelix! Let's go!" Forrest called, tossing a pokeball to release a giant iron snake that hissed at me in anticipation.

I felt my heart beat rapidly and Growlithe barked in alarm from beside me. A Steelix? It was huge! Reaching shakily for my pokedex, I scanned the large pokemon.

Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon. Steelix is the evolved form of Onix. It has been compressed underground, making its body harder than diamonds.

Tougher than diamonds? Great. How was I supposed to beat this thing! It was a steel and ground type pokemon, so it was weak to... water and fire! Excellent! We had this one in the bag!

"Ready Growlithe!" I turned to my puppy pokemon with a grin, and when the puppy nodded, I beamed.

"Alright let's go Growlithe!"

"Growl!" The puppy barked, racing forward to land opposite to the huge snake.

"This battle will be a one-on-one between leader Forrest and challenger Scarlet! The battle is over when one pokemon is knocked out! Begin!" Brock called, and I took advantage right away.

"Growlithe use ember!" I shouted, and my puppy pokemon barked and leaped up, his mouth emitting bright flames that fired towards Steelix.

Forrest smirked. "Dodge and use bind!"

The great snake slipped past the ember attack and lashed out with his tail, wrapping tightly around Growlithe and squeezing.

"Growl! LITHE!" he cried in pain as Steelix's grip tightened.

"No! Growlithe!" I gasped, and from beside me, Nathan looked out in concern. "That bind is going to do a lot of damage if you don't think of something quick."

I scanned my brain thinking hard, before I snapped my fingers. "Growlithe! Try and aim an ember attack on Steelix's tail!"

Growlithe was panting hard, but heard what I said and with a loud cry, launched an ember attack directly on Steelix's tail, and the pokemon cried out in fury and dropped the puppy pokemon.

"Nice work Growlithe!" I called in delight.

Landing on his feet while wincing from the pain of the bind attack, Growlithe crouched, ready to strike again while growling furiously at Steelix.

Forrest looked mildly impressed. "Interesting. Let's see how you react to this. Steelix, use Rock Throw!"

Steelix hissed and lashed out with his long tail, hitting a boulder on the battle field to come spiralling towards Growlithe. If that hit, Growlithe would be in serious trouble!

An idea popped into my head, and I beamed. "Growlithe! Jump on the boulder and then leap into the air!"

Nathan looked taken aback from beside me. "Is she crazy? How is that supposed to help?"

Bryce looked amazed. "Watch and find out."

Growlithe leaped into the air like I told him, and upon landing on the boulder, shot straight into the air at least six feet high.

"Now! Growlithe use ember!"

Growlithe let out a howl as the red ball of energy formed again between his mouth, and shooting it forward until it connected with Steelix, exploding with a loud bang.

When the smoke cleared, Steelix was lying on the ground, unconscious, and Growlithe was standing straight, still crouched as though it was the beginning of the battle.

"Steelix is unable to battle! The winner is Scarlet and Growlithe!"

A smile spread on my face and I ran forward to Growlithe, scooping him up and crushing him into a hug.

"We did it Growlithe!" I cheered, and Growlithe yipped happily.

After a few moment, I looked up to see Forret walking towards me with a smile on his face.

"You were amazing Scarlet! The bond between you and your Growlithe already is incredible, and I can clearly see where your heritage comes in. So here! Take this Boulder Badge!"

He handed me the brown badge and I grinned from ear to ear. "Thanks Forrest!"

Nathan came up from behind me and beamed. "Wow Scarlet! That was great!"

I blushed pink, and opened my mouth to protest, but was cut off by Bryce, who was nodding.

"It was very interesting! Much more entertaining then the battle Forrest had yesterday."

I raised my eyebrow. "There was a battle yesterday?" Bryce smiled. "Yeah, a boy with glasses. He fought Dad's Graveler with a Squirtle."

Nathans smile was instantly wiped from his face and I perked up in interest. "Hey that must have been Ean! Gary Oak's son!" I beamed.

Nathan huffed and crossed his arms. "Yeah, that little know it all."

I turned to him in annoyance. "What's your problem Nathan? Ean is nice. Quit being a jerk."

"You know what, whatever!" Nathan snarled. "Congratulations on your battle Scarlet, excuse me for a minute."

With that, the obviously ticked boy stormed out of the gym.

I snorted and turned back to Bryce, who had a knowing look in his eyes. "Looks like Nathan's jealous!"

I flushed and crossed my arms in anger. "Oh please! What are you talking about!"

And that was Chapter Seven! Again sorry about the late update, I really am trying but with exams coming up things are a little slow. Maybe leave a Review for another update? :D