Chapter Twelve

"It's on the left...just up the street I think is what Mason said," Amanda told them.

The three, finally free of Riley, were heading towards Leader Josh's gym with their Pokemon in backpacks.

"Yeah…oh! There it is!" Ellis said excitedly, pointing to a black building at the corner of the road.

Colby looked to where he was pointing and saw the black building. It was a simple round building, fairly large, and had a sign in green letters that said Ft. Jonova Psychic Gym out in front.

Colby also noticed to the right of the gym, was a daycare center of some type. The daycare was a cute little house shaped building with a playground out to the side. This playground happened to be bordering the gym on one side. As they came to the entrance, Colby noticed that a few kindergarteners were playing outside.

As soon as they notice them, the kids came running with huge smiles on their faces.

"Welcome to Jawshes Jym! Jawshes Jym! Welcome! Welcome to Jawshes Jym! We love Jawsh! Jawsh!" They all screamed.

Colby looked at Ellis and Amanda, who bust out laughing.

"Josh must be pretty popular with the children," Ellis said through laughter.

"Let's go in before they start singing or something…" Amanda said with wide eyes. Colby laughed and followed the two inside, breathing in the cool air greedily. As they stepped through the doors, they entered a small entrance room that had paintings of psychic type Pokémon on the walls.

To Colby's utter confusion, a huge Guns 'N' Roses poster occupied the far back wall. That was particularly odd…

"Challengers I suppose?" A voice spoke from the room.

A guy came walking thorough the back, open, doorway and was looking at them. Colby recognized the black and green cloak from the photo.

"Leader Josh?" Colby asked.

The guy just looked at her, "Yeah…none other than."

Colby was really dulled by his lack of enthusiasm; it was kind of annoying in a way.

"We are challengers," Ellis said, narrowing his eyes.

Josh gave Ellis a once over and seemed to instantly not like him. Colby looked at Amanda, who also seemed to notice the instant dislike radiating from the two.

"Challengers," Josh said with a laugh, mocking them.

"You don't think we can beat you?" Ellis growled.

Josh narrowed his eyes, "Well, there is only one way to settle this isn't there? Follow me."

Leader Josh walked back through the doorway and straight into an elevator. They just stood there with awe as Josh walked into the elevator.

He gave them a weird look, "Well what the hell are you just standing there for? Get in!"

Colby rolled her eyes and got in with the rest of the crew. The elevator gave a huge lurch, which sent Ellis crashing into Josh.

Josh's eyes were ablaze as he shoved Ellis off him. Ellis looked like he wanted to murder him, and turned the other way as the elevator went up. After a few seconds, it came to a halt and they all piled out.

Josh continued down a hallway and as they kept going farther, it seemed to be getting darker. Barely able to see Josh in the dark, Colby stumbled along blindly. "Leader Josh?" Colby called into the dark.

She felt someone step on her foot, "Sorry," Ellis muttered.

"Leader Josh?" Amanda called again.

Colby was almost beginning to panic when the lights flipped back on, and they appeared in a huge room. Colby was amazed by what she saw; it was like being in a huge arena, but only with no fans. Colby looked across the field, past the Poke Ball in the center, and saw Leader Josh poised for battle on the other line.

"Who's first?" He called, echoing over the area about the size of a football field. The three looked between each other and Josh. Who was going first?

"Who wants to battle him first?" Amanda asked.

Ellis sighed, "I'll battle."

Colby looked between Josh and Ellis, then nodded. Ellis stepped up to the line and got Emmera's Poke Ball out, turning it over in his hands, starring Josh down. Josh flipped his hair and snapped his fingers, in which a Mr. Mime immediately appeared at his side. He whispered something to the Mr. Mime and it lined up in front of him in the field.

"You two," Josh said, pointing at Colby and Amanda, "back in the hallway."

Colby was confused, but backed into the hallway with Amanda.

"What-"

"This isn't a double battle, so unless you're one of his Pokémon, then scram!" Josh yelled from the other side of the room.

Colby glared at him and backed into the hallway, where the door came slamming shut.

"That is…weird," Amanda said with wide eyes.

Colby wasn't surprised by Josh's irritated attitude…but it was really annoying. She couldn't even imagine how Ellis was coping, being all positive. Colby wasn't the peppiest person in the world, but she was trying to get better.

"Yeah, I guess the battles are a secret or something," Colby said irritably.

"Gosh, I just hope they aren't fighting or something…because it seems so far, Ellis has made more enemies than friends. With Riley and Josh put together…" Amanda trailed off.

Colby nodded, that was very true. For the next ten minutes, they stood there and chatted, waiting. Colby was mildly curios as to what was going on. Amanda seemed jittery and turned Zero's Poke Ball over in her hand nervously.

"Don't be nervous, you've got this," Colby assured her.

Amanda looked up and smiled, "Thanks…I just hope we can beat him."

Colby smiled back, "You're a great trainer and I know you will win."

Just as she finished saying that, Colby heard something through an intercom in the corner. They starred at the little box as they heard Ellis and Josh talking. "Ha ha! I beat you. In your face!" Ellis yelled.

"Do you want to die? If so, keep talking," Josh yelled back.

"Oh, by the way, Guns 'N' Roses makes Rebecca Black seem halfway decent," Ellis, yelled.

Colby heard the door open, and Ellis stormed in, hair wild. Josh was right on his heels, eyes blazing.

"You take that back! Right now," He yelled, pushing Ellis against a wall.

Ellis, being the same height as Josh, starred him down.

"Oh yeah, I sure will" Ellis said sarcastically.

"Take. It. Back," Josh hissed, hand tensed for socking.

"Stop it!" Colby screamed, pushing them both into a wall.

Josh looked surprised, and regained his composure.

"What are you doing? Josh! You're a gym leader! You are supposed to have control, leadership, and compassion for the challenger!" Colby yelled.

Josh looked at the floor, and Colby felt like a mother reprimanding naughty children. Amanda was standing in the corner, eyes wide, and not knowing what to think. Josh finally looked up, and starred Colby down with piercing eyes.

"I don't need your help. Now if you want to battle, move," Josh growled, pushing past Colby, cloak flying.

Colby gave Ellis the evil eye, and followed Josh through the door. It slammed closed behind her, and she sighed.

Josh was at the other end of the field, holding his Poke Ball, and starring her down. Colby got out Nicky's Poke Ball, and dropped Mara's back into the backpack. She had made some progress with Mara during their training day…but not enough yet to put Mara in battle. "

Go Nicksy!" Colby called, throwing the Poke Ball in mid air.

It cracked open and Nicksy sprung out, ready for battle.

"Murr!" He mewed as his feet hit the ground.

"Mr. Mime, lets go," said Josh, matching Colby's parabola Poke Ball arc.

Mr. Mime appeared and Nicksy face him, with determination in his brown eyes.

"Mime, Mime," Mr. Mime said, looking to Josh for instruction.

"Ready for this?" Colby called to Josh.

Josh looked between Colby and Nicksy, and then nodded. Glancing at Mr. Mime, they both struck an interesting pose. Like the one in the picture, they got back to back and crossed their arms.

"I'm all into it! With the intuition and all, dawg," Josh said in a gangster voice.

He instantly snapped back into his cold state, and starred at her like nothing just happened. Colby was utterly confused…what did just happen? Colby rolled her eyes and was ready to begin the battle.

"Nicksy, shadow ball!" Colby yelled, beginning the first gym battle of her life.

A black and purple sphere formed at Nicky's mouth, and then went hurtling at Mr. Mime.

"Dodge, then confusion," Josh said nonchalantly.

He seemed so relaxed, that Colby wouldn't be surprised if he could paint his nails while battling, and still win. That is...if he was a girl. Mr. Mime did as it was told, easily dodging Nicky's shadow ball.

A ball of light formed at Mr. Mime's center of head, and came sailing at Nicksy.

"Em-" Colby couldn't get out the move, when the confusion hit Nicksy head on.

He staggered back and forth, with surprised, wide eyes.

"Shake it off Nic!" Colby called assuring.

Nicksy shook his head back and forth, then finally regained control.

"Ember!"

"Slap that bitch!" Josh called to Mr. Mime.

Colby gave Josh a look of death, when flames exploded out of Nicksy's mouth. Mr. Mime, got a bit toasty, but fought around the intense flames, and smacked Nicksy two times with double slap.

Nicksy, in response, bit him. Mr. Mime let out a cry, and got burnt again. "Mime! Meditate, quickly," Josh called, irritated at Mr. Mime.

Colby cheered in her head, and was happy that Nic had learned bite! Perfect timing to! As Mr. Mime quickly executed the meditate, Nicksy threw ember at him. "Mr. Mime, get back, go Abra!" Josh yelled, throwing out Abra's Poke Ball.

"A-Abra," he sniffed, briefly confused as to where he was.

"Nic, shadow ball!"

Nicksy conjured the sphere of darkness once again, and shot it towards the Abra.

"Teleport," Josh shouted.

The shadow ball missed Abra by a hair as he teleported out, and Mr. Mime once again had the field. Josh was tougher than he looked!

"Come on Nic! Quick attack!"

Mr. Mime was once again re called, and the maneuver was executed again. After one more long time of the dance, Nicksy landed a shadow ball to Mr. Mime's solar plex.

He jerked back, absorbing the blow and landing with a thump. Mr. Mime looked dazed, and tired.

"Come on Mr. Mime! You can do it!" Josh yelled.

"Mi…Mime," Mr. Mime said, blacking out.

Josh looked frustrated and called Mr. Mime back. "Abra…it's up to you…we have no chance because you only know teleport…but what ever," Josh grumbled. "Lets finish this Nicksy!" Colby said, assumingly.

Panting, Nicksy turned around and gave her a comforting look.

"Finish him with quick attack!"

Nicksy got into formation and bounded towards the Abra at full speed. At this moment, it was as if time slowed down in slow motion. Nicksy leapt and collided with the Abra head on.

Nicksy landed repeated blows and Abra seemed to be exhausted from all the teleporting. As Abra fell, Josh seemed to be defeated and recalled the feinted Pokémon. For a moment, all was silent and Josh was looking at the ground. They met eyes and Colby could tell he was defeated.

She had won her first gym battle!

"Murr…" Nicksy murmured, exhausted from the heat of battle.

"Great job Nicksy! Get some well deserved rest!" Colby smiled, recalling him into the little red and white ball.

"Congratulations, you have beat me. Here is your first badge, the Psychic Badge," Josh said with his normal, unenthusiastic voice.

He dropped a little silver pin in her hand, shaped like an eye. Colby turned it over in her hand, in awe.

"Now make like pants, and split," Josh said, gesturing toward the door.

Colby just looked at him, but shrugged and shuffled out of the gym. Amanda replaced her in the gym and Colby sent her luck.


Still in daze from the battle, she found herself in the hall with Ellis. Looking at the time, she realized that the battle had only lasted a mere ten minutes. It had seemed like months though!

"How was it?" Ellis asked, calmer than when he and Josh were fighting.

"It was…interesting…but at least I got this!" Colby said, showing him the badge. Ellis smiled, and pulled out the same badge.

Colby returned the smile, and leaned against the wall to close her eyes. She was tired after the long battle, and the eventfulness of the last few days had worn her plum out.

After a few minutes of drifting in and out of consciousness, Colby heard the door whoosh open.

"I won guys! I can't believe it!" Amanda said excitedly, showing them the silvery badge.

"Congratulations Amanda! I told you everything would be alright!" Colby smiled. "Thanks! I'm sure you were awesome to!" Amanda gushed.

"So, you three have beaten me. Congratulations. Now, if you would ever be so kind, I will show you to the door. I have a headache, and need to go meditate or some shit like that," Josh said, rubbing his eyes.

The three exchanged looks, and filed out.

"Got to go meditate your troubles away do you?" Ellis mocked.

Josh looked up at him, with anger bubbling up.

"Alright plant brain. I'm not in the mood to be messed with. Either you stop this right now, or I'm going to make you. Is that clear?" Ellis snorted and kept walking, not really in the mood for a fight.

Josh seemed to be smoking from the front of the line, and lead them to the main room with the Guns 'N' Roses poster. They continued out the door, when suddenly Josh exploded.

"What the hell is this? What did you do to my sign?" Josh yelled, gesturing madly toward his Ft. Jonova Psychic Gym sign.

The sign, once black with green lettering, was now colored pink with black lettering. It read, "Welcome to Jawshes Jym" with a whole bunch of smiley faces done in chalk. Josh glanced at the kindergarteners who now saw him, and were coming running.

"Jawsh! Jawsh! It's Jawsh everyone! Jawsh!"

Josh looked like he wanted to explode as the kids raced towards him.

"Like your new sign Jawsh? We made it pretty!" One little girl explained.

Something inside Josh snapped, and everything seemed to go down hill from there.

"This is it! I can't take this anymore! I am out of here!"

Josh pushed some of the kids over and disappeared inside the gym. Five minutes later, he came back out and pushed around the kids again.

"Adios bitches," he called, walking away.

Colby, Ellis and Amanda caught up with him at the end of the street. He was carrying a bag and was walking head held high.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Amanda asked, worried.

"After two years of that, I can take it no longer. Screw the gym, I'm going with you guys," he stated blankly.

"Whoa…uh," Ellis stopped, not to happy with the idea.

"If you have a problem with it, then get over it. I am done dealing with those kids. I don't care how much they love me. I don't love them back," Josh huffed.

They continued to walk on, and Colby spotted a Pokémon Center up the road. "I'm going to heal Nicksy," Colby said.

Ellis and Amanda nodded, following her. Josh seemed to tag along to, evidently becoming the newest edition of our party.

"Uh, Josh…how are people going to get the Psychic Badge now?" Amanda asked.

"Hell if I know. Nor do I care anymore," Josh snorted.

Colby sighed and entered the Pokémon Center with the others right behind. Walking up to the counter, everyone put their Pokémon down, and the nurse healed them without a word.

Exiting, they made their way to the main road out of town, Route C.

"So… you are actually going to join us?" Colby asked, not to thrilled with the idea herself.

Josh looked at her, "No, I'm kidding. Yeah, to my dislike, I'm going with you."

Colby rolled her eyes and focused on the busy road ahead. People passed, not giving them a second glance and Colby could see past the big building, open forest ahead.

She ran through the day's events in her head, and was still shocked that she won her first gym battle. The first badge was won! She was so proud of Nicksy and herself for making it this far in the first place!

"Where are you from?" Josh asked, hands in cloak pockets.

"I'm from Portsburg, Ellis from Afron Village and Colby from Hecate Region," Amanda explained.

Josh wrinkled his nose at the mention of Afron Village…Colby had a bad feeling about this.

"Afron Village? Oh, so that's the name of that booger that the map makers sneezed out after all is it?" Josh said, glaring at Ellis.

"What do you have against Afron Village?"

"What do you think? Something of yours equals something I hate. They complete each other," Josh smirked.

"At least I'm not…a city…slicker," Ellis said, fumbling for words.

Colby looked at Amanda, who shrugged. For the next half hour, they jabbed insults at each other, all the while Amanda and Colby got more irritated.

"Guys, please!" Amanda pleaded, as they exited the city.

They shut up, but in response, continued a fierce glare battle. Just when Colby thought the shenanigans were over, and peace was upon them. Their least favorite person showed up.

A bought of flaming red hair stepped out from behind a tree, wearing a cheesy Riachu shirt and a smug smile.

"Well, well, well, look what cupid's arrow shot. It's none other than Twix and Tootsie Pop. Nice to see my two favorite cupcakes again," Riley said, winking at the girls. Colby sighed deeply and Amanda looked uncomfortable. Josh looked confused, and Ellis was wearing his look of fury.

"You know ladies…our fates must be more intertwined than I suspected, considering we are reunited again so soon," Riley cooed, grabbing Amanda's hand and getting down on one knee.

Josh looked between the two, and seemed disturbed. Riley let go and stood up, looking between Josh and Ellis. His smug smirk returned as he gave Josh a once over.

"So, Pothead got himself a boyfriend did he?"

Colby's eyes got wide…Riley didn't know who he was messing with…Josh would cook him for dinner. Ellis looked disgusted, and didn't quite know if he hated Josh or Riley more. That would be a difficult decision!

"Who the hell is this bitch?" Josh shouted, eyes blazing.

Riley smirked and seemed to be fueled by Josh's rage.

"I, am none other than these two amazing women's date," Riley smiled, winking at the girls.

"Yeah, when hell freezes over," Colby hissed, not wanting any part of this.

Josh looked deadly, and seemed ready to beat Riley's brains out. Just as Josh was about to tell him off, Riley's pocket started to play the Pokémon theme song. It was an awkward as he struggled to get his pocket open, and produced a MID. Putting it to his ear, he muttered a hello.

"What? Mom…yeah…Mom! Yeah, I packed clean underwear! Sure, bye," Riley turned a bit pink but quickly hardened again.

"Mommy thinks you forgot your underwear, Tomato?" Ellis taunted, amusement in his eyes.

"Shut the hell up, Pothead. I've got better things to do than talk to you losers. See you later girls," Riley waved, disappearing into the trees.

Colby sighed and looked at the pale Amanda, who looked really psychologically damaged from these unpleasant experiences.

"That guy, is a real jack wagon," Josh growled, "I may hate him more than I hate Ellis."

Colby rolled her eyes and kept walking towards the forest with Amanda right beside her. The two guys behind them, once again went at it with insults. This was going to be a long journey, Colby could just tell.


After about twenty minutes of arguing, Colby was about ready to die. They had made it well past Ft. Jonova and the sun seemed to be sinking down low on the horizon. The lights of Ft. Jonova were visible in the distance, and golden rays of sunshine illuminated the buildings.

"How about another joke?" Ellis called; clearly wanting to light the negative mood those two were creating.

"Oh God," Josh groaned, knowing that what ever was coming, was bad.

"Whatever," Colby shrugged.

"As long as I don't melt with cheesiness," Amanda sighed.

With Ellis and his jokes, that was impossible.

"Alright, why did the girl at the shop pick Mew instead of MewTwo?"

Colby shrugged, and didn't really want to know the actual answer.

"One Mew is enough to take care of, but two? That is ridiculous!" Ellis laughed. Everyone was silent, and stopped just to look at Ellis.

"What?" He asked, amusement in his eyes.

"Is your name Maple Syrup?" Josh asked.

Ellis looked confused, "What? No."

"Well it damn well should be you sap!" Josh yelled, not amused by the terrible joke. Ellis looked sad that everyone had rejected his joke, and kept walking on into the cool night of the beautiful Aurora Region.


Author's Note: :) Hopefully you enjoyed that chapter! Josh is a real character isn't he? XD Darn those pranksters, and let's not forget, the kindergarteners of doom! Ha ha, enjoy guys, and comment with reviews!

-colbyjackchz