Disclaimer: Pokemon is by Satoshi Tajiri

Pokémon BW: Yin-Yang Quest

"Welcome back," Lenora greeted as Mia, Taylor, and Hawes re-entered the Gym.

Mia looked at the Gym Leader with a determined smile on her face. It was now or never to get through this hurdle.

"I challenge you to a rematch!" Mia declared.

"Each trainer is allowed to use only two Pokémon and the winner is decided when none of either trainer's Pokémon can battle," Hawes stated.

"Here I come, Mia," Lenora said as she tied her apron to her waist. She threw a Poké Ball up in the air. "Herdier, front and center!" Herdier came out of her Poké Ball.

"Tepig, you're up!" Mia said as she threw a Poké Ball. Tepig came out, flames shooting out of her snout.

"Begin!" Hawes declared.

"Tepig, use Ember!" Mia commanded. Tepig blew a cloud of flames from her mouth, hitting Herdier and blinding it. "Now follow up with Tackle!"

Tepig raced to Herdier and tackled it square in the face. "All that training worked!" Taylor said. "Tepig's a lot faster now!"

"Use Shadow Ball!" Lenora commanded.

"Counter that with Ember!" Mia commanded.

Purple-black spheres of dark energy generated from Herdier's mouth. She fired all four in quick succession. Tepig blew the Ember from her nostrils and this caught all four Shadow Balls and juggled them into the air. The ball collided into each other, dispelling the hurricane.

"Creative, I admit," Lenora noted with satisfaction. "But I've researched your battle style as well. Herdier, use Roar!"

Letting out a mighty roar, Herdier sent sound waves to Tepig. Tepig was forcefully recalled back into her Poké Ball and Oshawott was sent out in her place.

'Roar?' Mia asked herself. 'That can only mean one thing…it's her primary strategy that's in play!'

"Return, Herdier," Lenora said. Herdier was recalled back into her Poké Ball. "Front and center, Watchog!"

Watchog was sent out. "Mean Look!"

Watchog glared at Oshawott with menacing red eyes. When the illusion appeared around Oshawott, she was trapped.

'I was hoping to make a move before she could use that. Plan B, then,' Mia decided. "Oshawott, use Water Gun!"

Oshawott let out a blast of water from her mouth, pushing Watchog back. "Thunderbolt!" Lenora commanded.

"Use the Scalchop as a shield!" Mia said as a beam of electricity came from Watchog's tail. Oshawott removed her shell and put it in front of her. The beam hit the shell and dispersed.

"Well, now!" Lenora said, impressed.

"Keratin shell!" Mia said as Oshawott reapplied the Scalchop. "Light but durable. Use Aqua Jet, Oshawott!"

Cloaking herself in water, Oshawott rocketed up. But she soon lost control and spiraled around in the air before crash-landing onto the ground. 'I don't get it!' Mia thought. 'She had control of it when we trained!'

"Confuse Ray!" Lenora commanded.

Watchog summoned four blue spheres of light and threw them at Oshawott. Oshawott began wobbling awkwardly, confused.

"Aqua Jet!" Mia commanded.

Oshawott cloaked herself in water, but rocketed over to the bench that Taylor and their two Emolga were sitting on. Taylor grabbed the Sky Squirrel Pokémon and ran out of the way before Oshawott crash landed onto the bench. "You three all right?" Mia asked.

"We're all fine, but I don't think Oshawott is," Taylor replied.

"One more Aqua Jet!" Mia commanded.

"Low Kick!" Lenora commanded.

Oshawott cloaked herself in water again and rocketed into the air as Watchog got down on the ground and began spinning. They collided into each other, knocking both Pokémon out.

"Watchog and Oshawott are both unable to battle!" Hawes judged.

"That was nuts, but that's also one Pokémon on Lenora's team down," Taylor noted. Mia and Lenora recalled their Pokémon. "The next match is going to decide it."

"Tepig, I choose you!" Mia declared as she threw the Poké Ball. Tepig came out, flames coming from her snout.

"Front and center, Herdier!" Lenora commanded. Herdier came out and howled, ready to fight.

"Begin!" Hawes declared.

"Tepig, Flame Charge!" Mia commanded. Tepig rushed for Herdier, cloaked in fire. 'If I can wear Herdier out, then I'll be in the clear for some extra hits!'

"Dodge!" Lenora commanded. Herdier got out of the way, but barely as a portion of her fur was singed. The fire around Tepig dispelled. "Shadow Ball!"

"Dodge them, Tepig, and use Tackle!" Mia commanded.

As Herdier fired Shadow Balls in rapid succession, Tepid jumped and ducked as she ran for the Loyal Dog Pokémon. "Protect!" Lenora commanded.

A blue shield surrounded Herdier. When Tepig collided into it, she bounced off the shield instead. Sparks came from the singed piece of fur, and Herdier let out a yelp in pain.

"Exactly as planned!" Mia exclaimed. "Tepig, Flame Charge at full speed!"

Tepig raced for Herdier, cloaked in fire. "Herdier, use Giga Impact!" Lenora commanded.

Both Pokemon rushed for each other, holding nothing back. The burn kicked in again, causing Herdier to lose energy and fall. Seeing that her Herdier wouldn't last any longer, Lenora took out a towel and threw it into the air.

"Stop, Tepig!" Mia commanded. Tepig stopped in her tracks, the energy dispelling as she looked at Mia.

"Lenora has decided to forfeit!" Hawes judged. "Therefore, the winner of the Gym Battle is Mia from Nuvema Town!"

"Whoa!" Mia exclaimed as she fell to her knees. "That was pretty intense! I'd thought you'd stick around for more!"

"You had the better strategy back there," Lenora admitted. Taylor helped Mia up and they high-fived each other. "I applaud you, Mia."

Back outside of the museum, rumblings were going on about a Gym Battle. Their rumors were confirmed true when Mia, Taylor, Lenora, and Hawes came out of the secret room.

"You've impressed me more so than I thought. As an archaeologist and strategist like you, I can respect that," Lenora said as she revealed the Basic Badge. "I hereby present you with the Basic Badge."

Mia accepted the badge. "Thank you, Lenora," she thanked. "I got a Basic Badge…"

She put the Badge in the Badge case.

"Exactly as planned!" she finished.

Emolga, Oshawott, and Tepig cheered. One by one, the museum patrons applauded.

"The next gym is in Castelia City," Lenora directed. "Its a few miles west of here. When you get to the Skyarrow Bridge, you'll know you're close."

'Better let Dad know I'm on my way to his place before leaving,' Mia reminded herself. "Thanks, Lenora! Next stop, Castelia City!"