AN: So sorry it's been so damn long since I updated. This has been a really difficult year in college, both emotionally and academically, but since it's summer and I'm getting back into the games again, I'll try to update once every week or two :) also, I do not own Pokemon.

CHAPTER 3

I woke up to a Water Gun attack to the face. Apparently this is just how my life was supposed to be - attacked by various small monsters to wake me up every day. I glared at the top bunk as Snowdrop grinned down at me and Victoria giggled into her paws. Clearly, however bad their relationship had started out, it was improving rapidly. Which sucked for me.

"That's enough, now," I grumbled, albeit affectionately. "We're going to go get breakfast, and then we're going to train to battle the Santalune Gym within the week, I hope." Victoria squealed in delight while Snowdrop just cocked his head at me in confusion. After a few quick words in his ear from Victoria, he looked equally enthusiastic and even jumped up and down.

Later that day, though, I began to wonder if we would ever be ready to battle the Gym Leader as my poor Marill had taken yet another hard Tackle from a wild Litleo, and Victoria looked ready to collapse after a hard won victory with another trainer's Riolu. Of course we will, I reassured myself. Besides, if you win these badges, maybe Calem will stop acting so smug at times. I couldn't help the feeling, though, that even though I had decided the purpose of my journey was to take the Gym challenge, I was still feeling uncertain as to why I was doing it…

3 Days Later

"All right, team. Let's do this!" I grinned at my two little warriors, each of whom were trying their best to stare back at me in a dignified manner, rather than acting excited. It wasn't working - the corners of Snowdrop's mouth kept twitching and Victoria's eyes sparkled with excitement and a hunger for battle.

"I know. I can't wait, either. Come back in your Pokeballs for now." I recalled them both and skated across town to the entrance to the Santalune Gym. (During one of our training sessions, a girl had offered me a pair of roller skates if I beat her Zigzagoon in a battle. Snowdrop had not only learned Rollout in the process, but defeated her soundly.)

Throwing the doors open, I discovered the layout of the gym was a giant spider web. Bug types...Snowdrop's Fairy type will resist those, and they'll be weak against Victoria's Ember attack. Lucky break for my first important battle. After battling a couple of small boys and their various Ledyba and Spewpa, I found myself facing a young woman holding a camera on the main platform in the middle.

Immediately, this woman snapped a picture of me, flash and everything. As I rubbed my eyes trying to figure out what the hell had just happened, she exclaimed, "Oh! You're a challenger! This will be fantastic, just fantastic!"

"Um...yeah…" I replied. Shaking off the last of my shock from the flash, I exclaimed, "I'm Serena of Vaniville Town, and I'm here to win my first badge!" I had decided that I should always introduce myself as if losing was not an option.

"Fantastic!" she exclaimed. "I'm Viola, and I'll give you the Bug Badge if you knock all of my Pokemon out. I will not switch Pokemon, but you are allowed to at any time. 2-on-2 battle sound good? Oh, this is just fantastic - I just got a new roll of film that I can use now!"

This woman needs a thesaurus, I thought. If I hear the word "fantastic" one more time…

"I only have 2 Pokemon, so yes, 2-on-2 is fine. I'll start off with my ace in the hole, Victoria!" Releasing my Fennekin onto the battlefield, she entered and squealed in delight to make her gym debut.

"Surskit, go!" Viola released a blue bug with four long, skinny legs attached to a small round body. "You have the first move, challenger."

"Victoria, start out strong with an Ember attack!"

"Surskit, counter with Water Sport. It'll make it easier on your teammate, too." The small blue bug barely flinched at the fireball coming towards it; in fact, she only sprayed a few spurts of water from her mouth that filled the battlefield with a sort of cool steam. By the time the Ember attack hit Surskit, it barely did any damage. "Now counter with Bubble."

I winced. Clearly, I should have accounted for the fact that Viola would have counters for the type that is Bug's biggest enemy. "Victoria, dodge, but get in close and Scratch at it as best you can."

"Big mistake, Serena. Keep using Bubble!" I knew it was a gamble, but I also knew Victoria could take a beating if need be.

"Balance on top of Surskit's body, Victoria!" Viola's face contorted in confusion, and then a grim understanding as the weight of my Fennekin's little body was too much for it to bear. "Now Scratch, Scratch, Scratch and whatever you do, do not let that little bug get up again!"

"Keep fighting with those Bubbles, Surskit!" Viola cried, and her Pokemon heard her call - it wasn't long before both my Fennekin and her opponent were knocked out.

"Thanks, girly, you battled like a true champ," I whispered as I recalled Victoria, kissing her Pokeball and returning it to my belt.

"Surskit, you made this gym proud," Viola stated as she also recalled her Pokemon. "Vivillon, I'm counting on you to take it home!" She released a large pink butterfly to be my next opponent. Ugh, maybe I should have just let Snowdrop battle Surskit...WAIT…

"Snowdrop, it's your turn!" I called my Marill forth, and he appeared with bared teeth and a fierce look in his eyes, which was honestly hilarious considering his appearance.

"Vivillon, start out with an Infestation!" What is that attack? I thought. Roots appeared from the ground and began to tie Snowdrop down, appearing to suck him further into the earth. He squealed in mild annoyance more than pain, struggling and failing to get free.

Mind racing, I commanded, "Snowdrop, you can beat this, don't get rattled. Curl up in a ball as tight as you can and start rolling to get out of the infestation!" Snowdrop calmed down and obeyed, quickly picking up speed in his spherical shape. Viola, unfazed, told Vivillon to fly in close for a Tackle attack. I smirked. Just what I was hoping for.

"That's enough speed, Snowdrop. Rollout. And make it a good few hits." Viola's eyes grew wide as she realized her mistake. "Vivillon, fly up and Harden as best you can!" But it was no avail; Snowdrop took off at what looked like sonic speed and within two hits, the butterfly Pokemon was unconscious on the ground. Snowdrop unrolled himself and quickly started bouncing around and singing in celebration of his victory.

"Yeah, yeah, you did good. Both you and Victoria. We'll celebrate later, bud," I added affectionately. Before I could even recall him, Viola had snapped two more photos of Snowdrop's dancing and my annoyed face at her flash.

"What a fantastic battle!" she exclaimed. "I learned so much from the way you and your Pokemon fought. Please, take this Bug Badge." Highly original name. And for the love of Arceus, stop saying fantastic! I smiled, however, in thanks as I took the badge and even for the picture she took of me afterwards.

"I hope you carry great memories of this battle with you. I will always have these fantastic photos to look at and remember you, and for that I am grateful," Viola finished.

"Thank you for being a great opponent," I returned, and left to head south to the Pokemon Center. After all, my Pokemon (Victoria in particular) needed to be healed for more traveling tomorrow.

For the first time since coming to Kalos, I fell asleep smiling.