Dawn smiled as she stretched her arms above her head.
"Finally, we made it to Striaton," she smiled.
"It was a rather long walk," Cheren smiled.
"Where's the gym?" Paul asked. Dawn held up her watch, looking at the screen.
"Ummm…Dawn," Cheren said, holding up his Town Map. "You might want to use this. That way you don't attract attention."
"Then what's the point in having these things?" Dawn sighed, taking the map. "Let's see, the gym isn't that far from here. It should be easy to get to. Oh! It says here that the gym doubles as a café!"
"Great," Paul muttered walking forward. "But, before we do that, I have to do something this time."
"What do you need to do?" Cheren asked.
"Catch the Joltik that's been trailing us," the plum haired boy said with a smirk.
"Let's see, the park is pretty close. Will that work for you?" Dawn asked.
"Should be fine," Paul nodded. "Let's go."
Paul stepped in front of the tree line, looking around. "Come on out," he ordered. When Joltik didn't respond, he held up a pellet of food. A string of web came out to grab the food, but Paul sidestepped it. Joltik came out of the forest and jumped onto his shoulder. "Good girl." he handed the pellet to her and scratched her chin while she ate the food.
"What did ya want?" Joltik questioned.
"To catch you," Paul answered.
"Please, why should I believe you?" Joltik scoffed.
"Guess there's no reason to, but it's your choice," Paul told her.
"Why don't you battle alongside Paul?" Cheren asked.
"That's a great idea," Dawn said.
"How is that a good idea?" Joltik growled.
"Think of it like a trial run," Paul told her. "If you like battling with me, you can stay, but if you don't, you can leave."
"Alright, I think I'll give it a try," Joltik agreed.
"Then let's go to the Pokémon Center so you guys can get ready," Dawn said.
"That sounds like a plan to me," Cheren smiled.
"Fine, but if you put on that damn cheerleader outfit, I will leave," Paul said, glaring at her.
"You're no fun." Dawn pouted.
"You have a cheerleader outfit?" Cheren asked.
"Yeah, I wore it when I cheered for my old traveling partner, Ash," Dawn said.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center!" Nurse Joy greeted.
"Welcome!" the pokémon beside her greeted happily.
"What's that?" Dawn asked, taking out her pokédex.
Audino, the Hearing Pokémon. Audino has incredibly sensitive hearing, using its ears like a radar to pick up even the faintest sounds. Audino can assess a Pokémon's overall physical condition and mood using its ears.
"Here," Paul said, placing Oshawott's pokéball on the counter. Joltik jumped off his shoulder, sitting next to it. Cheren and Dawn placed their pokéballs down as well.
"Nurse Joy, can Audino heal people as well?" Dawn asked.
"Well, there are a few hospitals that have Audino on staff, but I don't believe they use them for people," Joy told her. "I think their mainly used as assistants."
"Oh." Dawn hummed. "Do you know where I can find an Audino?"
"No, sorry." Joy shook her head. "The Audino are supplied by a nursing school that exclusively teach Audino how to be aides in a Pokémon Center."
"I see." The blunette nodded her head. "Thanks for your help."
"What are you thinking?" Cheren asked.
"I thought having an Audino might be a good idea. It could heal us when we get hurt," Dawn explained.
"So Troublesome isn't as stupid as I thought." Paul smirked.
"What was that?" Dawn shouted, glaring at him.
"Shouldn't you two be trying to get along?" Cheren asked nervously.
"Hey, she's the troublesome one. Did you forget about what happened with the Galvantula?" Paul asked.
"That wasn't really her fault," Cheren muttered.
"Here are your pokémon, good as new," Nurse Joy said, smiling.
"Great!" Dawn smiled. She picked up Snivy's pokéball and released the grass snake into her arms. "Now let's go win you two a badge!"
"Here it is," Cheren announced, looking up from his map.
"Alright! Let's go!" Joltik ordered.
"Let's get this over with," Paul said, sighing. He opened the door to the building.
"Greetings, I am Cress," A blue haired boy introduced as he approached them. "Are you wishing for a table for three? Or are more people going to join you?"
"Are you the gym leader?" Paul asked.
"One of them, yes," Cress nodded.
"I challenge you to a gym battle," Paul declared. Strangely the entire café seemed to hear him, as everyone got quiet.
"A gym battle huh," A red haired boy said with a giant smile. "Which one of you will we be facing?"
"It's a double battle?" Dawn asked.
"This isn't right," Cheren said. "There are supposed to be three gym leaders and you battle the one you have a disadvantage with. For example if you had a grass type you would battle Chili, the fire type."
"That is how it's supposed to be, yes," Cress nodded. "But our brother Cilan left to travel with a trainer. You have the choice to battle one of us or both of us."
"Are they allowed to do a two-on-two?" Snivy asked.
"Can it be a two-on-two?" Cheren asked.
"For not being able to understand us he sure knows what we're saying," Snivy said.
"I'll say," Dawn agreed.
"Chili?" Cress asked.
"I don't have a problem with it," Chili said.
"Alright, then two-on-two it is," Cress agreed. "Right this way." The back wall opened up, revealing two staircases and a tunnel.
"This is so unfair," Dawn said sadly. She looked over at the girls that were suddenly in cheer uniforms.
"Troublesome! I swear if you change into that ridiculous cheer outfit of yours I will burn it while you are wearing it!" Paul shouted, glaring at her.
"Fine!" Dawn shouted with a frown. "No need to be so mean."
"Some men don't have any manners," Snivy sighed.
"And he's such a grump, can't he have any fun?" Dawn muttered.
"I heard that," Paul grumbled. "Both of you."
"Paul," Cheren called quietly, tugging on his sleeve. Paul looked over at him and nodded.
"Are you two ready?" Chili asked.
"I am." Cheren nodded, holding up his only pokéball.
"So am I," Paul agreed.
"Then let the battle begin!" The referee declared.
"Make a splash Panpour!"
"Heat's on Pansear!"
"Time to fight Tepig!"
"Joltik, stand by for battle!"
Four of the pokémon appeared on the battlefield in a flash of red light while Joltik jumped off Paul's shoulder.
"So that's Pansear and Panpour," Cheren muttered, taking out his pokédex. "Never seen one in person before."
Panpour, the Spray Pokémon. Panpour lived in forests long ago, but developed a body that makes it easy to live near water. It does not thrive in dry environments. It can store water in the tufts on its head.
Pansear, the High Temp Pokémon. Pansear lives in caves near volcanoes. The temperature on the tuft on its head can reach600 degreeswhen it's angry.
"Chili, Cress, go all the way, win this battle, hip hooray!" The girls cheered, swinging their pompoms.
"You can do it guys!" Dawn cheered.
"Joltik! Use Electro Web," Paul ordered.
"On it!" Joltik agreed, spitting out the web.
"Dodge!" The gym leaders shouted. Both monkeys jumped out of the way.
"Tepig, use Ember," Cheren ordered.
"Pansear, counter with Flamethrower!" Chili ordered. The two fire attacks collided. The flamethrower pushed past the weaker attack, hitting Tepig.
"Tepig, are you okay?" Cheren asked.
"Fine," Tepig grunted. "But this is still fun."
"He's fine," Paul said lowly.
"Panpour, use scratch," Cress ordered. The water monkey jumped forward, the tip of its paws glowing.
"Joltik, intercept and use Bug Bite!" Paul ordered. Joltik jumped in front of Tepig and rushed forward, blocking him from the attack. Panpour turned, attempting to attack Joltik. The fast spider jumped around, dodging each scratch. She grabbed Panpour's arm, her fangs glowing white. Panpour cried out as it was bit.
"Go Joltik!" Dawn cheered.
"Use thundershock!" Paul ordered. Joltik jumped off of Panpour and quickly shocked him.
"Flamethrower!" Chili ordered. The fire monkey directed the attack at Joltik, who dodged.
"Tackle!" Cheren ordered. The fire pig ran at the fire monkey.
"Dodge it Pansear!" Chili ordered. Pansear jumped out of the way.
"Joltik! Electro web!" Paul shouted. Joltik fired the attack at Pansear, hitting him. The string stuck him to the arena floor.
"Pansear no!" Chili gasped. The cheerleaders above gasped and muttered worriedly.
"Ember!" Cheren ordered. Tepig nodded and aimed the attack at the trapped monkey.
"Pansear is no longer able to battle!" The referee announced.
"Good job Pansear." Chili sighed, returning the pokémon.
"One down," Paul said.
"One to go," Cheren finished.
"You can do it Cress," Chili cheered.
"Panpour, it's up to you." Cress told him.
"Right! I'll do it!" Panpour said.
"Use water gun!" Cress ordered. Panpour let out a shout and aimed the attack at the pig pokémon. Tepig squealed as it was struck.
"That wasn't fun…" he groaned.
"Tepig is no longer able to battle," the referee shouted.
"Is Tepig okay?" Dawn shouted.
"Yeah, he'll be fine," Cheren nodded, retuning his pokémon.
"Water versus electric," Paul muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Use mud sport Panpour!" Cress ordered. Panpour nodded.
"Dodge it!" Paul ordered. Panpour's hands glowed red as he raised them above his head. He slammed them onto the ground and a wave of mud rushed towards Joltik. Joltik jumped to the side trying to dodge it. The wave of mud hit Joltik, knocking her back. The spider jumped up and shook her body, trying to fling off the mud.
"I'm gonna give you a big shock for that!" Joltik growled.
"Electric moves aren't effective anymore," Paul told her. "Use bug bite!"
"Alright then!" Joltik sighed. She leapt forward, her fangs glowing white.
"Now use double team!" Several copies of Panpour appeared on the field, surrounding Joltik. The spider came to stop looking at all the copies.
"Go Cress!" The cheerleaders cheered, waving their pompoms.
"You can do it Joltik." Dawn shouted from the balcony
"Paul," Cheren muttered.
"I know," the trainer said.
"Use scratch," Cress ordered. The Panpour rushed forward, trying to scratch at the spider.
"Dodge it and use string shot to take them out!" Paul ordered. Joltik jumped back and forth to avoid the attacks. She used string shot and hit the water monkeys. The copies disappeared. The real Panpour jumped up to avoid being hit. He flipped through the air and landed on some sticky string.
"Panpour!" Cress gasped.
"Bug bite," Paul ordered with a smirk.
"This fight is over!" Joltik shouted. She latched onto Panpour, biting his head. Panpour let out a yell and fell back, knocked out.
"Panpour is unable to battle, so the victors are the challengers Paul and Cheren!"The referee declared.
"Alright!" Cheren cheered.
"You did it!" Dawn laughed, clapping.
"Not bad," Snivy agreed. Paul crouched down as Joltik scurried over to him.
"What do you say?" he asked, holding out a pokéball.
"Alright, I'll travel with ya," Joltik agreed. Paul opened the pokéball and caught the spider.
"And now we present both of you with the trio badge." Cress smiled. They both held out two trays. A badge was sitting snuggly in the cushion.
"Congratulations." Dawn smiled. "You guys had a great battle."
"Better than that pathetic trainer you used to travel with, that's for sure," Paul muttered. He pocketed the badge. Dawn chuckled nervously, choosing not to comment.
"Thank you," Cheren bowed and placed his badge in his case.
"It was our pleasure," Chili said.
"Hope you come back soon," Cress said.
"Should we head to the next town?" Cheren asked.
"Actually, I heard one of the girls talk about a mysterious pokémon in the Dreamyard, just outside of Striaton," Dawn said.
"Think it could be a legendary?" Paul asked.
"It's worth a look," Dawn said.
"Alright, then we'll rest up and head out tomorrow," Cheren suggested.
"Deal," Paul agreed.