June 21st, 2007

"Here are your pokémon Kori." A tray was put on the counter. On top of the tray were Chimchar and Oshawott, along with two pokéballs. "Good luck on your gym battle."

Kori nodded. "Thank you Nurse Joy." Both Chimchar and Oshawott each jumped on a shoulder as Kori connected the two pokéballs on her bag strap. Kori walked over to Lyssa, who was sitting in a chair at a table. Kori and her two pokémon sat at the other available seats and began eating their meal; berries for the pokémon.

Oshawott started eating solid food just yesterday. Now he seemed to be getting more independent now.

"Alright," Kori said when she had her pokémon attention. "Today, we go to the Oreburgh Gym and face Roark for the coal badge. Whose with me?"

"Chimchar!" "Oshawott!" Kori's two pokémon called in determination. Oshawott especially had every intention of battling today; no matter what his trainer thought.

"Good!" Kori called enthusiastically. "Then let's do it!"

"CHIM!"

"OSHA!"

It's like they're all hyped on sugar, Lyssa thought with a smile. Kori and her pokémon had been training hard for this. She was also excited to see how it would go and take pictures of the battle.

Kori had gotten more pokémon food and released Cherubi and Swablu. Lyssa had released Corsola and they all ate and spoke with each other. After they were all done with their meal, Kori returned Swablu and Cherubi, put Chimchar and Oshawott on her shoulders. It reminded Kori how Oshawott had cried after she put it in a pokéball for the first time after it was just hatched. It released itself from the ball, hugged her and cried. Kori felt so guilty she promised never to do it again.

"I'm going to call my parents real quickly." Kori told Lyssa.

Lyssa nodded, carrying Corsola in her arms. The two girls walked over to a videophone. Kori made the call.

Kori's mother, Cari, appeared on the phone.

"Hey mom!" Kori called.

"Kori! Lyssa!" Cari smiled. "It's so good to see you two!" Cari had met Lyssa when Kori was still in Jubilife City when they decided to travel together.

"Chimchar."

"Oshawott."

Lyssa waved. "Hey Mrs. Day."

"Corsola."

"Please call me Cari," Kori's mother said.

"Just wanted to let you know that we just made it to Oreburgh City."

"That's great honey!" Cari exclaimed. "Your pokémon also look really well. How is Swablu?"

"Swablu's great," Kori said. "I also caught a Cherubi. Hey where's Taylor?"

"Taylor went to visit a friend in Sandgem Town." Cari shrugged. "I forget which. All I know she wanted to show off her pokémon."

"Her pokémon?" Kori questioned.

"Yes. The same day I gave you Oshawott's egg," Cari explained.

"Oshawott."

"I gave her another egg. That's why she didn't seem so jealous. Another Oshawott hatched."

"Wow," Kori said. That does explain that. Now that she thought about it, Taylor had harassed Kori about getting her first pokémon before her. She didn't hear the end of it. Then Kori got that egg, Taylor was strangely silent. Kori was too excited to care though.

Anyway, good luck Chimchar!" Cari smiled. "I know you're battling in a rock gym, so do your best."

Chimchar waved. "Chimchar!" She yelled, determined.

"And Oshawott you too."

"Osha osha wott!" It yelled, holding up it's scalchop.

"Lyssa, please take care of Kori."

"Will do Mrs. Day."

"And please call me Cari."

"Okay um... Cari."

"Good. And Kori, remember to take care of yourself and your pokémon," Cari said.

Kori just sighed at her mom's antics. "I already do that."

"Sure you do," Cari said, waving. "Anyway, I'll be rooting for you. Bye."

Kori and Lyssa, Chimcha Oshawott and Corsola waved. "Bye!" The image disappeared and the call disconnected. Kori hung up the phone on here end.

"Let's go then," Kori said. They all walked out of the Center and towards the Gym.

Kori and Lyssa walked into the Gym. Inside stood a man with long, brown hair.

The man saw them and smiled at them. "Hello there."

"Hi," Kori greeted. "Are you Roark?"

"Sorry but I'm not," the man explained. "My name is Ian. The gym leader, Roark is in the mines right now, but he should be back soon. Are you both challengers?"

"Actually she's the only challenger," Lyssa said, pointing to Kori. "I'm just here to root her on the take pictures."

Ian nodded in understanding. "Welcome challenger," Ian said to Kori. "If you come with me, I can present you with a badge case."

Kori and Lyssa followed Ian further inside. Ian gave Kori a light green badge case with a pokéball symbol on it. Kori opened the case to see a blue plushie material with eight indentations for the eight gym badges that would be put inside once Kori won them.

"Now you two can wait inside," Ian said. "I'll tell Roark you're here as soon as he comes. Good luck with your gym battle."

Kori nodded. "Thank you." Kori and Lyssa sat in the seats nearby. Oshawott moved itself on her lap. He turned around to look at his trainer.

"Osha osha?"

"The gym leader just isn't here right now," Kori explained, "but he'll be back soon."

"Oshawott?"

"Sorry Oshawott, but I won't be using you for this one. I promise that you will get your chance in another gym battle."

Oshawott frowned at that. It just wasn't fair; he trained for this whenever Kori wasn't working with the others or when there was time by himself at night. Oshawott could win for Kori. Oshawott was ready. He just needed to convince his Kori of that. "Osh-."

"I see I have a challenger today," a new voice said. Kori looked up to see a man with red hair, wearing a hardhat and glasses. Interesting, Kori thought. "My name is Roark. I assume you're Kori?"

Kori nodded. Chimchar jumped on the ground, while Kori got up with Oshawott in her arms. "Nice to meet you." Lyssa got up as well.

"Please follow me," Roark said, walking into another direction. "I'll lead you to battle field we'll be using."

They all walked through the hall and into the arena, which was rocky terrain; appropriate for a rock- type gym actually. Kori also noticed the open roof; it was perfect for her strategy. Kori put Oshawott in a seat where he would have a good view. Lyssa and Corsola sat next to him. While Lyssa took out her camera, Oshawott watched enviously as Kori and Chimchar walked onto the battle field. He should be there too!

"You and your Chimchar look confident Kori," Roark pointed out. "Makes me wonder what strategies you have planned."

Kori smirked. "You're just gonna have to figure it out while we battle."

"Chimchar!"

Kori pulled out a pokéball.

Roark smiled. Ian got on the field as well.

"The gym battle between the challenger, Kori from Twin Leaf Town and Roark, Oreburgh City gym leader, will now begin," Ian announced, raising her arms. "It is a three- on- three battle. Only the challenger may substitute pokémon. The battle will be over when one side has lost all three pokémon." Ian dropped hos arms. "Now begin!"

Roark threw a pokéball. "Come on out Onix!" The large pokémon was immediately released. Kori, not having heard of the pokémon before, pulled out his pokédex.

Onix- the Rock Snake Pokémon. It burrows through the ground at a speed of 50 mph while feeding on large boulders.

"So it's fast," Kori whispered. She quickly threw the pokéball that was in her other hand. "Please help me out Cherubi!" The cherry pokémon appeared on the field. "Cherubi!"

"You can have the first move Kori," Roark called.

Kori smiled. "Thanks Roark. Cherubi, Use Sunny Day like we practiced!"

"Cherubi!" Cherubi created a ball of light that caused the sunlight from becoming brighter.

"Onix use Slam on Cherubi!" Onix raised it's tail.

"Wait Cherubi," Kori ordered. "I'll tell you when it's okay."

Cherubi nodded in affirmation and waited as Onix's tail moved closer.

"Huh?" Lyssa lowered her camera to get a closer look. "What do you think she's waiting for?" Corsola just shook her head, she didn't know.

"Osha..." Oshawott didn't know either, but he wasn't worried. If Kori said not to move, then it had to be okay. Kori never wanted them to get hurt if they could avoid it."

Onix's tail was coming in fast.

"Now jump!" Kori called.

Almost in a flash, Cherubi jumped into the air.

"What?" Roark whispered in shock.

"Now use Magical Leaf!"

"Cherubi!" Cherubi flips around, releasing glowing leaves that immediately attacked Onix. Onix roared in pain, but did not faint.

"Onix!" Roark called. "How did Cherubi move so fast?"

"It was because of Cherubi's special ability Chlorophyll," Kori explained. "It makes Cherubi faster when it's really sunny."

Roark whistled. "So that's why you had Cherubi use Sunny Day. I'm impressed, but you're still going to have to do better than than! Onix use Stealth Rick!"

Onix roared. Balls of light surrounded the field around Cherubi and turned into rocks. It did nothing to Cherubi at all, which was confusing to Kori. What was the point?"

"Maybe the pokédex can tell me." Kori pointed the device.

"Stealth Rick is a rock- type attack. It attacks an opponent's pokémon when they are substituted or brought on the field after the move is completed. It's affects are continual," the pokédex said.

So Roark is making it difficult for me to substitute pokémon by using this attack, Kori said to herself. Real clever. Now what should she do?

"Watch out Kori!" Lyssa called out from her seat.

"Osha!"

"Will do," Kori called to them. "Cherubi, use Magical Leaf again!"

"Onix, intercept with Screech!" Onix roared loudly. The yell was so powerful a shock wave caused loose rocks to be blown towards Cherubi. The smaller pokémon was blown back by both the rocks and the shock waves; she collided with a large boulder. Smoke appeared from the collision.

"Cherubi!" Kori called in concern. She couldn't see past the smoke; there was no way to tell if the grass- type was alright.

"Osha!" What happened? Was Cherubi alright? Or was it over?

The smoke eventually cleared and everyone could see Cherubi struggle to get up from the boulder.

"Cher... cher.." Cherubi struggled to get up from the boulder.

"It's over," Roark said. Kori had to agree. Cherubi looked exhausted and about ready to faint.

"Cheru... bi.." Cherubi was breathing hard, but she would not give up. Her Kori was counting on her. Cherubi was then engulfed in a bright light. Chimchar recognized the glow. She had only ever heard of it, never actually seen it herself.

"What's going on?" Kori whispered.

"Chim?"

"It's evolving," Lyssa whispered, snapping a quick picture. From her viewpoint, she could make out Cherubi's changing shape.

"Osha..." Evolving? Oshawott wondered what that was. Whatever it was, it was really bright.

Eventually the light disappeared, revealing a whole different shape like a yellow blossom. "Cherrim!"

"Alright Cherubi!" Kori quickly corrected herself, "I mean Cherrim!"

"Chim chim!" Chimchar jumped up and down in excitement. Her friend got stronger.

"Osha?" Why did Cherubi look so different?

"So Cherubi evolved? Congrations," Roark called, grinning.

Kori smiled. "Thanks"

"But the battle isn't over yet! Onix, use Double- Edge!" Onix moved really fast, so fast Kori barely caught it.

"Cherrim!" Kori called, "Use Magical Leaf!"

"Cher!" The newly evolved Cherrim attacked, but instead of the glowing leaves from earlier, came a barrage of pink flower petals. It hit oncoming Onix head on, there was no dodging from so close.

"That's not Magical Leaf." Kori pulled out her pokédex again to explain.

"Petal Dance," the pokédex droned. "It is a grass- type move that inflicts damage using petals. The user of the attack may become confused."

Onix fell to the ground, the tell- tale swirls in its eyes let everyone know that it had fainted.

"Onix is unable to battle." Ian motioned to Kori, the winner of this round is Kori!"

"Yay!" Lyssa called. "Good job Kori!"

"Corsola!"

"Oshawott!" Jumping up and down. Kori waved and smiled at them before turning back to the field. Cherrim looked worn out and there was still the Stealth Rock to deal with.

This wasn't over yet.

"Roark returned Onix to its pokéball. "That was a very good job Onix. Rest easy. He switched it with another pokéball. "Geodude help me out!"

"Geodude!"

Geodude- the Rock Pokémon. At rest, it looks just like a rock. Carelessly stepping on it will make it swing its fists angrily.

If I can get Cherrim to attack effectively, I won't have to switch. "Cherrim, use Petal Dance!"

"Cher?" Cherrim started swaying, not seeming to hear Kori's command. Did Kori say use Sunny Day again?

No. Kori made the realization. Cherrim was confused.

"Geodude use Rock Throw!" Roark commanded.

"Geodude!" The rock- type picked up a bunch of rocks and threw then at Cherrim.

"Cherrim, watch out!" But it was too late. And Cherrim was hit. Once the dust cleared, everyone could see that Cherrim had lost this round.

Kori's Pokemon

1. CHIMCHAR (female): (EMBER, SCRATCH, IRON TAIL)

2. SWABLU (male): (SING, FURY ATTACK, STEEL WING)

3. OSHATWOTT (male): (SCALD, AIR SLASH, RAZOR SHELL)

4. CHERRIM (female): (MAGICAL LEAF, PETAL DANCE, SUNNY DAY)

Lyssa's Pokemon

1. CORSOLA (female): (WATER GUN)