Flint.

"Mister Reggie, I want to challenge you to a rematch!"

God, I hated Dee, but at least she managed to get me and Blondie off our sorry butts.

We got dressed and left for the gym, and Dee explained why Riley and Amber were gone. We all had a nice snicker about it, except for General Hardass herself.

Reggie raised his eyebrows at Tess' bold request. "Well, you certainly are confident about it," He chuckled, a smirk pulling at his lips. "Follow me inside."

He led us inside the gym, where Maylene and Aaron were waiting. Aaron was letting her pet his Leafeon.

Doesn't Aaron have his own gym to run...? I thought.

"Maylene!" Reggie called out. "We have challengers."

The little pink-haired girl nodded. "Yes, sir!" She answered. She went to the side of the battlefield, and waited.

Before me, Volkner, and Dee went to sit on the sidelines, Dee patted her sister on the back. "Good luck, Tessie."

Tess nodded, her hair swishing by her ear. "Thanks."

We sat on the benches on the side of the battlefield, Aaron joining us. Volkner glared at him.

"Don't you have your own gym to go home to?" He demanded.

Aaron shrugged. "I'm only a stand-in leader. I can take as much vacation time as I want."

Before Volkner could snap back a response, Maylene shouted, "Okay! The official rematch between the gym leader, Reggie, and the challenger, Tess Thompson, will now begin!"

We snapped to attention.

"This will be a standard two-on-two battle, with no substitutions allowed!" Maylene continued. "The battle is over when both pokemon on either side are unable to battle! And...begin!"

Reggie sent out his pokemon first. "Drapion, I choose you!"

The big, bulky scorpion pokemon that had thrashed Pikachu came out. I saw Volkner shudder, out of the corner of my eye.

Tess grimaced, but drew a pokeball. "Machop, let's go!" She called out.

Her tiny little Machop looked like nothing compared to Drapion, but Machop had guts. He made a swift kick up, crying out, "Chop!"

"Machop, use Focus Energy!" Tess ordered.

Aaron whistled a low note. "Damn, she isn't screwin' around today."

"Chop-machop! Chop machop!" Machop stomped his feet on the ground, almost running in place, pumping himself up. "Chop chop!"

Reggie chuckled. "Cute. Drapion, Slash at Machop!"

The Ogre Scorp rushed at Machop, brandishing his claws. Tess tensed for a moment.

"Dodge, Machop!" She warned Machop. "Then use Low Kick!"

Machop swerved as Drapion tried to slash at him, then slid forward with his leg out and tripped Drapion. The bigger pokemon stumbled, and fell.

"Now use Karate Chop!" Tess was really getting into it.

Machop lept up from under Drapion, crashing down with the side of his hand slamming into Drapion's head. "Maaachop!"

A laugh escaped from Aaron. "That looked like a critical hit!" He exclaimed.

Tess smirked. Reggie was actually sweating a little.

"Drapion, grab that Machop, and bite him!" He ordered. "Don't let him get away!"

"Don't let him catch you, Machop!" Tess came back. "Evade Drapion!"

Drapion lunged at the small fighting-type with his claws, but Machop moved out of the way. Damn, Machop was fast.

Once again, Tess smirked. "Now use Brick Break!"

Machop lept up and karate chopped Drapion's head again, but with a glowing hand, and a little more force behind the blow. It looked like it really hurt.

Sitting next to me, Dee clenched her fists in her lap. "C'mon, Tessie..." She murmured.

"Machop, don't let Drapion attack! Brick Break, again!" Tess and Machop really were on fire.

Machop clenched his hand into a fist. "Maaaaaachop!" He lept up, ready to crash his fist back down.

Reggie's eyes widened as he realized it could be it. "Drapion, block the attack!" He ordered.

Drapion raised his clawed arms, and deflected Machop back to the ground. Machop landed on his side, crying out in pain

It was close. So close. "Machop! Hurry, get up!"

Machop stumbled to his feet, looking determined. My heart skipped a beat in anticipation.

"Drapion, use Fire Fang!" Reggie was more than ready for a comeback.

Scurrying towards Machop, Drapion's mouth burst into flame. Machop hurtled his body haphazardly to the side, landing on his shoulder.

Aaron sighed. "They're evenly matched, but Machop is in a tough spot. He's taken more than he's dealt, and is getting worn down."

That analyzation made me mad. Tess heard him, and her face turned red in frustration.

"We're not done yet!" Tess screeched. "Machop, use Focus Energy, then Low Kick! Give it everything you've got!"

It scared the holy hell out of me to hear Tess shout like that. Machop nodded, stamping his feet.

"Machaaaah!" He cried. "Macha macha macha!" His fighting spirit was unbelievable.

Reggie gritted his teeth. "Drapion, grab Machop, and use Fire Fang!"

Dee pounded her fist against her thigh, crying out, "Come on, Machop! You can do it, honey!"

Machop took off when Drapion reached for him, sliding out and tripped up the bigger pokemon.

"Machop, use Karate Chop! Finish Drapion off!"

The small Superpower pokemon lept up above Drapion, bringing the side of his hand smashing down on Drapion with enough force to bring up a cloud of dust and dirt. Tess and Reggie both had to shield their eyes.

Seconds later, when the debris cleared, Machop was, shakily, the pokemon left standing. Drapion was a defeated, crumpled mess.

Aaron audibly gasped. Reggie muttered, "What?!"

Uncertainly, Maylene lifted one skinny arm towards Tess. "D-Drapion is unable to battle. The winner is Machop!"

For a couple seconds, I couldn't hear anything in the small gym except Machop's heavy breathing, and Drapion letting out a pained groan. Then, Drapion was returned.

His trainer chuckled, grinning. "I'm impressed, Tess. Where was this fierce girl yesterday?" He returned Drapion's pokeball, picking a different one off of his belt loop. As he threw the pokemon out, he added, "Don't get careless, now!"

Tess nodded. "Right!"

Reggie's second pokemon was...