Wow I can't believe it's Chapter 8 already. But that's just me saying that because I just started to get into writing again these few months or so.

Anywho! Thank you DestinyVerge for reviewing last chapter! :)

Disclaimer: I do Not Own The Pokemon Franchise. I do however, own these OC's.

Violet City. It was less than I expected. I mean, did it even classify as a City?

I mean, sure, it had a Pokemon Center, a Mart, A School, A Tower, and the Gym leader, but that was about it.

It seemed like the type of place that you would retire to, seeing how many old people inhabited the City. Sure, you saw the occasional Trainer roaming around , either going to the School or the Tower, some even heading to the Gym, probably thinking they were strong enough to win the hard earn battle that was going to come.

Langston and I were one of the few that went to the Gym . I glanced over at the blond beauty, his face was cool, collective, as if he was ready for anything. He seemed very confident in his abilities.

Before hand, Langston showed me around the practically bare city , pointing out the significant buildings. We had strolled around quietly, mostly because I didn't even know what to converse about. My mind was like pudgy, as if every intelligent word I could think of was just made of slime, oozing out of my ears.

It also didn't help that I felt as if I was obligated to say something, anything. But anytime I had opened my mouth, my throat clogged up, making me sound like a strangled Pokemon. I received weird looks from Langston, which made me regret opening my mouth at all .

ChiChi fidgeted in my arms, openly complaining the dislike of being away from the Turtwig on the ground. Why couldn't she see that I withdrew comfort with holding her in my arms? She was like a stress ball, whenever I felt extremely nervous or shy, she had seemed to ease it up a bit. Though knowing that I couldn't discreetly hold her in my arms , I set her down for her to play with Langston's Turtwig.

Traitor.

I guess when I was thinking, Langston had mumbled a question. Snapped out my jumbled thoughts I turned to him.

He was looking at me, expecting an answer. I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Um, could you repeat that?" I asked, how could I not notice when a godly human being was speaking to me? Gah! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

He smiled, those sparkling whites showing me kindness, and probably a trip the hospital considering how much my legs were wobbling at the moment as I embraced his smile.

"I asked if you caught any more Pokemon." I stopped a little bit before I had continued to keep walking. I mean, would Trapinch count as a catch? Sure, he was on my team, but it's not as if I went through the trouble to actually catch it.

"Kinda?" I told him , unsure. He gave me a look .

"Kinda?" He asked questioningly as I sighed slumping my shoulders.

"I have another Pokemon besides ChiChi, but I didn't go through the whole process of 'throw pokeball, get a winner.' Though not that matters, it's not as if I can use him..." I bowed my head in defeat, thinking back to the uncontrollable Pokemon. Who was I kidding ? I couldn't train something like that with my inexperience.

"Can't use it?" He inquired.

"It's to violent. Also it disregards me as if I'm not even there. Doesn't listen to my commands..." I rubbed my hand subconsciously, looking down to see the bite mark was just a scab waiting to heal . Langston watched me do so, snatching my hand to get a closer look.

Blushing, I tried to retract my hand. I had small cuts everywhere from when Trapinch did a Sand Tomb in my direction when I had tried to order it to stop the fight.

My eyes widened in realization that I had probably looked like crap even if I had cleaned most of the wounds when the siblings and I were on our way to Violet City. Langston's grip tighten around my hand which made me yelp.

Langston cracked a smile as he dropped my hand.

"Why does that not surprise me you've already gotten yourself hurt, only after two days?" He chuckled, shaking his head. My blush burned hotter, as I looked away from him with a pout forming on my face.

"Oh shush. It's not my fault!" I said defensively , crossing my arms.

"Why don't you call out the Pokemon?" I looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Huh?" Why would he suggest something like that? He didn't understand ! I kept it in there for a reason!

" Call it out. Since I hold more knowledge than you do, I might be able to tell you what is wrong with it." I gave him a sour face at his comment. Sure, he was more of an expert than I was, but that didn't mean he was more qualified than I was.

Reluctantly, I called out the Trapinch. My pride hated it but I did need some help. I was not about to deny the hand that fed me. Metaphorically speaking.

The orange creature looked around, confused to it's new surroundings. ChiChi spotted the party member and had prepared herself to battle. The Trapinch sensed the threat, growling at the under level Pokemon.

I squeaked, unsure what to do.

"Turtwig, be sure to protect ChiChi." Langston ordered, his hazel eyes studying the Trapinch. Turtwig said "Tuurr" in agreement, his eyes narrowing at the Trapinch. The creature in returned growled at the new threat.

"Karma, try giving an order to Trapinch." Langston told me, as I looked around nervously. I felt as if this wasn't going to end well.

"Um, Trapinch, st-stop growling!" I said pathetically, squeaking when the Trapinch growled at me.

"Alright. I seen enough. Recall the Trapinch before he hurts someone." My attention snapped up to Langston as just stared back. I fumbled to grasp the Great Ball , sighing in relief when I was able to recall the Trapinch.

Langston gave me a serious look as I waited for his verdict. Then he cracked a smile .

"The problem is quite simple actually. He feels as if his space is invaded and he also does not respect you as a trainer." He grinned as I sweat dropped. Great, how was a rookie Trainer like me going to fix that?

"What I would suggest is let him out periodically, so he can get use to your face to know that it is not a threat. I would also suggest the Gym Challenge. "

"Th-the Gym Challenge?" I stuttered out, surprised with what I was hearing.

"You really are a rookie Trainer." Langston commented.

"N-No! It's not that I don't know what it is, it's just why would you suggest that to me?" I asked, flailing my arms around like a windmill.

"Well, you want to be able to control that Trapinch don't you?" I stopped to think about it.

"I mean, yeah of course. After the shitty past he had, he deserves a better future." I mused to him, as his smile grew wider.

"In order to do that though, you need more badges. Maybe then, I'll consider you a worthy rival."

"Whaaaaaa-?" I thought I would faint from shock. Me? A worthy rival? I glanced over at ChiChi. She wasn't very intimidating, and with how much of an inconvenience I had been , I wasn't really 'Rival Material'.

In all honesty, I could never be anyone's rival with just how much lack of inexperience I had . Think about, I had never been interested in this type of stuff, and now with it thrust upon me I was sorta at a disadvantage. Everyone around me had at least knew what was going on when it came to raising Pokemon.

To take the Gym Challenge... well it would seem out of my character. I had just wanted to continued this forced journey to prove to my Mother that even after seeing the region I was still contempt at just staying at home . This just wasn't me.

But...

Maybe that could be a reason to take it on. I was the under dog in this situation, no one would expect me to come out on top. Or middle. Or at least, giving it some effort. There was no guaranteed that I would do well, but if I could just try...

Besides, it's not as if I had planned anything out anyways . This could give me purpose to enjoy something besides being bored out of my mind just mindlessly wondering around each city.

Sure, I wouldn't be passionate about it like everyone else, but... it could be more like a hobby.

Yeah a hobby. I had liked the sound of that. I narrowed my eyes as I looked Langston in the eyes, mustering all the seriousness I could perceive.

"Well Mr. Davis, the next time you see me, I won't be some weak, meek girl. No, I'll be your rival. And we will battle the next time we cross paths." Langston seemed a bit shocked at my announcement . Nonetheless though, he smiled.

"Well Karma, I'll take your word for it. For now, we better hurry up to the Gym before it closes for the day." I nodded as we hurried our pace to the first Gym of our Journey.

We entered the Gym as I took in the sight. Up above, close to the roof was a balance beam made of wood. The beam had made an 'S' shape then had connected to even a bigger platform which I had assumed the Gym Leader had taken it's place at.

"Hello Champ in the making! Are you both here to challenge the Gym Leader?" A man asked us that was beside a statue stood at. He seemed more like a door man to me. You know, the guy who greeted everyone at the door?

" I am. She's not." Langston answered, calling back his Turtwig. The door man looked at me , and pointed at an opening in the wall.

"There are stairs up there that will lead you to the stands so you can watch the fights. " I nodded at the older man, and proceed to do what he said. I walked up the metal stairs, hearing the echoing sound of my foot steps as if I was a bird pecking from inside a hollow tree. When I made it to the top, it was just a strip of walk way with railing that would make sure you didn't fall off. If you had wanted to sit down, there was a bench that traced the wall from end to end.

I guess it was safe to assume that they didn't get much visitors as the other side of the gym had mirror the side I was on.

"Karma!" I turned to the voice that had called my name only to see it was none other than Amelia.

"Hey Amelia. " I told her, waving slight awkwardly. She grabbed my wrist as she started to bounce back to her previous spot.

"I'm so glad you were able to make it! Just in time for the last challenger of the day! Now you'll get to see Bubba in action!" She pointed enthusiastically at Jake who stood onto the plank closest to the Gym Leader. He had still held that youngster look, with the green shirt and brown cargo pants. You wouldn't expect that he was a Gym Trainer.

I turned my attention to Langston to see that he had just finished off the first Trainer with just his Turtwig.

"Wow, he's good! He won even when there was a type disadvantage with his Pokemon!" Amelia awed at he blond beauty, as I swore that I missed the fight. If I had wanted to be his rival then I should know how he fought.

Though, now it was Langston VS Jake.

Since I've never seen Jake's Pokemon , nor Langston fighting style as he ended the last battle to quick before I could see it.

Since I also hadn't known each boy for very long, though I was acquainted with both of them , I didn't know which one to cheer on. It had felt wrong to cheer any of them wrong.

Amelia had than started to cheer for her brother to kick Langston's butt, while I stood as close to the railing as possible.

I was not going to miss this.

Viola! Yeah it's kinda short, but I had wanted to keep the suspense for the Battle Scene for the Next Chapter. Whoo Hoo. We gotten small Character development from our Protagonist !

Anywho, Reviews are love! :)