"Cherrim is unable to battle and this round goes to Roark, the gym leader."

Kori returned Cherrim to her pokéball. "Thank you Cherrim. You did a great job. Kori put it away and pulled out Swablu's. "Now I-!"

"Oshawott!" Oshawott jumped out of his seat and in front of the Kori before Lyssa or Corsola could stop him. "Osha osha!"

"Oshawott?" Kori was confused.

"I wonder what's going on?" Roark asked. Kori wished she knew as well.

"Osha," Oshawott said while slashing furiously with its scalchop. "Osha osha." Kori finally understood.

"You want to battle instead?" Oshawott nodded energetically. Kori shared a look with her partner, Chimchar. "I don't know..." Kori looked very unsure.

"Osha osha oshawott." Oshawott needed to do it. He knew he could help his trainer if given the chance.

"I understand now," Roark said. He nodded in realization. "Oshawott wants to help you win Kori. He obviously likes you very much to want to fight so hard for you."

Oshawott nodded very quickly.

"I think you should allow Oshawott to battle for you." Roark adjusted his glasses. "It's battle spirit is certainly strong and it would make Oshawott happy."

Kori thought about it. Oshawott wasn't who she planned to use; it was still very young. But he does have a type advantage over Geodude and he does seem eager... she made eye contact with Chimchar, silently asking for guidance.

"Chim." Chimchar seemed to understand the silent question. She nodded. It was settled then.

"Alright,' Kori sighed and pointed to the field. "Oshawott! I choose you!"

"Oshawott!"

"Go Oshawott!" Lyssa cheered from the sidelines. "Corsola cor!"

Oshawott happily jumped onto the battle field and almost immediately, the Stealth Rock attack made their way towards him.

"Osha!" Oshawott quickly spun around with his scalchop on hand. "Attacking the oncoming debris with his weapon. The attack was completely destroyed by a few Air Slashes.

"Oshawott you still have to wait until I give you a command." Kori smiled, in spite of the scolding. "But that was a great job!"

"Whoa," Roark called in surprise. "That was definitely impressive, but I still have more trick up my sleeve then that."

"Oshawott use Razor Shell!" Kori commanded. Without hesitation, Oshawott was running towards his target.

Roark, not recognizing the attack, he quickly studied it and countered. "Geodude counter with Hidden Power!"

"Geodude!" Multiple, opaque little balls appeared in front of Geodude's hands. The rock- type threw them at the oncoming Oshawott.

"Oshawott jump on the large boulders to dodge!" Oshawott jumped on top of the closest boulder. "Now run towards Geodude!"

"Osha!" Oshawott jumped onto other boulders, making his way towards Geodude with a yell. Oshawott quickly jumped from the last boulder and was above Geodude, ready with a downwards slash.

"Geodude use Rollout to dodge!" Geoudude turned into a ball and rolled out of the way. Oshawott only landed on dirt. Geodude seemed to roll away and quickly, rolled backwards to hit Oshawott.

"Wott!" The hit connected. Geodude rolled on top of the smaller pokémon and rolled back around coming at the downed Oshawott fast.

"Oshawott dodge it!" Kori pointed. "Roll out of the way!"

Oshawott's eyes snapped open. He rolled out Geodude's way moments before Geodude rolled past. Geodude's Rollout stopped when it missed its target.

"Not bad," Roark called. "I was so sure I had you that time."

"Well we're still in this," Kori said in determination. Oshawott got up from the ground, ready for more.

"Geodude use Hidden Power again!" Geodude threw its hidden power.

"Oshawott use Razor Shell to deflect!" Oshawott made the slashing motion, but the blue shape was absent. Oshawott's eyes widened when it looked as its paw. Realization had barely set in when Oshawott had gotten hit with Hidden Power.

"What happened?" Kori asked in shock. Why didn't Oshawott use Razor Shell?

"Kori!" Kori turned to the voice. Lyssa was pointing somewhere on the field. "Oshawott dropped its scalchop!"

What? Kori looked over to where Lyssa was pointing. Laying innocently on the ground, was Oshawott's scalchop.

"Osha!" The water- type squealed in happiness. It found its beloved scalchop. It ran to retrieve it but had to stop when a Hidden Power hit the ground between Oshawott and his weapon. "Osha!" He yelled in panic.

"You're not getting past Geodude and me." Roark smirked. "So Oshawott can't get its weapon back."

Kori growled. "Oshawott can battle without it!" She hoped so at least. Kori felt very unsure when she noticed the way Oshawott reacted to not having its scalchop. "Oshawott!"

Oshawott turned towards its trainer. "Osha?"

"We can do this together no matter what," Kori said with more confidence than she actually felt. She definitely noticed Oshawott was breathing very heavily. They needed to finish this quickly or Oshawott will be down for the count.

Oshawott still looked unsure. "Osha..." Oshawott was rally tired, but he turned back to his opponent.

Roark pointed to the field. "Geodude use Seismic Toss!" Geodude quickly grabbed Oshawott.

"Oshawott!" Oshawott yelled, alarmed. He struggled against the hold, but Geodude was too strong. Kori and Chimchar helplessly watched from their side of the field as Geodude lifted Oshawott higher and higher into the air. Then Geodude threw Oshawott towards the ground. Oshawott fell towards the hard surface.

Suddenly inspired, Kori thought, that's it. "Oshawott use Scald on Geodude!"

"Osha!" Oshawott opened his mouth and spit out boiling, hot water at Geodude. The rock- type was too close to dodge it and had no choice but to take the hit. It yelled in pain.

"Geodude no!" "Geodude!" Geodude fell to the ground.

Oshawott hit the ground as well. "Oshawott!" Kori yelled in concern. "Chimchar!" Chimchar looked just as worried.

Ian looked at both pokémon. Both had the tell- tale swirls in their eyes; they were done. "Both pokémon are unable to battle!" He signaled with both arms. "This match is a draw!"

Roark returned Geodude to its pokéball. Kori jogged over to Oshawott. He came to while in Kori's arms. Did he lose? Oshawott asked himself. Kori smiled.

"You did it Oshawott," Kori whispered. "Because of you, Geodude was defeated." Kori hugged Oshawott. "Thanks."

Oshawott smiled, practically beaming from ear to ear. "Oshawott!"

"Chimchar." Chimchar pulled on Kori's pant leg to get her attention. She handed her trainer the scalchop. "Chim chim."

Kori smiled. "Thanks Chimchar." She took and pinned it on Oshawott's chest; right where it belonged. She put Oshawott in the seat next to Lyssa. The young photographer wished her friend luck as Kori walked back on the battlefield with Chimchar.

Roark was already holding another pokéball. "This is the last battle. I have no intention of losing." Roark threw the pokéball. "Go Rampardos!" A tall black and blue pokémon appeared; its red beady eyes staring them down. Kori looked at her pokédex.

Rampardos- the Headbutt Pokémon. If two were to smash their heads together, their foot- thick skulls would keep them from fainting.

"Wow.." Kori whistled. What a powerful pokémon. She turned to her partner. "Alright Chimchar, you're up next."

"Chimchar!" The fire- type jumped onto the field, in front of Rampardos.

"You're sending a fire- type?" Roark asked, surprised. "I assumed you would have went for another type advantage."

"Well type isn't everything." Kori yelled. "Chimchar opened her mouth and flames came out. These flames surrounded Chimchar's entire body and rolled like a wheel towards Rampardos.

"Rampardos use Headbut!"

"Rampardos!" Rampardos used Headbutt when the Flame Wheel was about to connect. The attacks clashed and both pokémon were blown back by the force of the combined attacks. Both Kori and Roark had shielded their eyes until the smoke cleared.

Both pokémon were breathing hard, struggling to get up.

"How was that possible?" Roark asked, awed. "Fire- type moves shouldn't have that much effect on Rampardos."

Kori thought about it. How was that possible? She looked higher up in the sky. That was it.

"Cherrim's Sunny Day. It's still in affect." Kori had forgotten that the move boosted the power of fire- type attacks.

Seems that Roark had forgotten that fact as well. "Rampardos!" Roark pointed. "Use Flamethrower on Chimchar!"

"Chimchar! Dodge by jumping on the boulders!" Chimchar managed to jump on top of a nearby boulder, barely dodging the oncoming Flamethrower before it hit its mark.

"Focus Energy Rampardos!" Rampardos began to glow with new energy. Chimchar, weirdly enough began to make faces at Rampardos. Chimchar turned her back to the other pokémon and started smacking her bottom. "Chim chim chim char," she called in a singsong voice.

"What is Chimchar doing?" Lyssa asked. Both Corsola and Oshawott shook their heads. They didn't know either, but they could see that she was making Rampardos angry; too angry too properly preform Focus Energy. Kori took out her pokédex, hoping to get some sort of explanation.

"Taunt," the pokédex identified. "A dark- type move that causes the foe to be taunted into a rage that allows it to use only attack moved for two to four turns." So Chimchar learned a new move. After looking at Rampardos, it was definitely working.

"That's it," Roark said. He noticed how affected his pokémon was. Time to go on the offensive. "Rampardos, use Zen Headbutt!" Rampardos rushed over to Chimchar quickly, it's head glowing powerfully.

"Chimchar jump!" "Chim!" Chimchar jumped into the air, just as Rampardos was about to hit her. The attack just missed her, but the air seemed to have been almost electrified, causing an small burn on Chimchar's leg. Chimchar cried out in pain, but bared it as she continued to go higher in the air. "Now use Iron Tail!" Chimchar flipped in the air. Her firey tail grew bigger and glowed bright white as Chimchar flipped and started coming down dast.

"Rampardos! Counter with Zen Headbutt!"

"Rampardos!" Rampardos' glowing head smashed into Chimchar's glowing tail. They seemed evenly matched at first. At least until Rampardos seemed to overpower Chimchar. Zen Headbutt caused Chimchar to collide with another boulder. "Char!"

"Chimchar!" Kori called. She couldn't tell if her friend was alright. The smoke eventually cleared, showing the image of Chimchar trying to get up, breathing really hard. "Chim..."

"Now use Head Smash!" Rampardos ran over to Chimchar. It was coming fast.

"Chimchar use Ember!" Chimchar used Ember in Rampardos' face when it was close enough. The attack was powerful enough to stun Rampardos from attacking.

Chimchar's ability, Blaze must have kicked in, Kori thought. This was their chance. "Cimchar get behind Rampardos and use Iron Tail!" Time was of the essence.

Chimchar nodded and found the energy to jump behind Rampardos. She hit the other pokémon with one powerful Iron Tail to the back, causing the powerful opponent to fall to the ground.

Dust surrounded the area. Everyone, even in the audience, held their breaths in anticipation, readying themselves in case Rampardos was alright.

The dust cleared; Kori and Chimchar exhaled in relief.

"Rampardos in unable to battle!" Ian called. "The winner is Kori of Twin Left Town!"

"Yes!" Kori ran to Chimchar and danced with her in her arms. "We won!"

Chimchar grinned tiredly. "Chim chim."

Oshawott danced on top of his seat. "Oshawott!" Lyssa put away her camera and smiled. She couldn't wait to develop these pictures.

Roark returned Rampardos to its pokéball with an almost sad smile. "You did a great job Rampardos." They had lost now, but they would definitely get stronger. Roark walked over to his happy challenger. "Congratulations Kori." Roark held out a hand.

Kori smiled and shook his hand. "Thanks Roark."

Ian handed Roark a black case that the gym leader opened. Inside, laying in a red velvet material, was the badge. Lyssa walked over holding the tired Oshawott. Corsola followed.

"For your win in the Oreburgh Gym," Roark said. "I present to you, the Coal Badge."

Kori picked up the badge and put it in her badge case. Chimchar and Oshawott jumped on her shoulders to admire the badge before Kori put it away.

Kori and her pokémon wanted t dance and yell to the roof tops about their victory, but they were all so drained. Their first gym battle had been intense. After saying goodbye to both Roark and Ian, Kori, Lyssa and their pokémon went to the Center to recover and sleep.

Kori's Journal Entry, June 21st, 2007

I'm awake. Just woke up from my nap. After that gym battle, I just felt so drained; my pokémon probably felt the same.

Speaking of gym battles, I still can't believe we won. It still feels so surreal; I actually opened my badge case a few times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I did it. No wait.

Me and my pokémon did it; we did it.

I'm hungry now. Good thing I woke up on time for lunch. No wait dinner. The sun is definitely gone now.

Anyway I'm done. I'll write when something new happens. Later.

-Kori

Jorunal Entry, June 22nd, 2007

We're all still in Oreburgh. Been here for a day since winning the gym battle. A breather was needed before making our way to the gym in Eterna City. Also we would need to go back through Jubilife City to get there.

I called home a few hours ago. Everyone was happy to hear about our victory. I also told them I was heading out for Eterna City tomorrow.

My dad told me I should stop at Floraroma Town. Apparently Kenny, a friend from Twin Leaf is competing in a contest there. Unbelievable.

I hadn't seen Kenny since he left for his journey a year earlier. He called my house yesterday to invite me since he had no idea where I was.

I'm glad to know Kenny had thought to invite me. He had been a good friend to me since I moved to Twin Leaf. I told me parents I would definitely go.

Taylor wanted to go too, so she and mom would be going to Floraroma Town a few days from now as well. Taylor always seemed so interested in Contests. I'm so looking forward to seeing my family.

-Kori

Kori's Pokemon

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

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)