Milo's friends took the news with varying levels of enthusiasm.
"This is so awesome, Milo!" Phillip cried. They were waiting outside the Pokemon Center, waiting for their cab to arrive. It wold take them to Midna mines, the location of the Gym.
Milo shrugged. "It's alright, I guess."
Flynn looked less impressed. "What made you change your mind, Milo?" she asked. Her arms were crossed.
Milo wondered if he could get away with another shrug, then decided against it. "Nothing. I just thought it'd be cool."
"It doesn't have anything to do with your brother calling, does it?" Flynn asked shrewdly.
Damn her. "No, it doesn't," Milo said. "I can make decisions independent of other people!"
"Are you sure your brother isn't forcing you?" Flynn asked. "Because if so, I'll kick his ass."
"I, for one, would love to see that." Phillip said, nearly smiling.
Milo glared at them both. "He's not forcing me. It's the opposite - I'm doing this to prove to him I'm capable of doing it."
"So you're trying to prove him wrong." Flynn said. "In that case, I'm down. Let's kick some gym leader butt."
"You're impossible, Flynn."
"Where is the gym?" Phillip wondered.
Milo pulled out the brochure he got from the Pokémon Center. "Says here it's in the Midna mines. Bottom floor."
Flynn groaned. "Ugh I do not want to go into a dirty cave. My outfit is not made for that."
Milo pinched her arm. "What happened to supporting me?"
"Bras support people," Flynn said, "Friends go along with stupid ideas then regret it later."
Milo took that as confirmation that she was going.
"I don't mind going in a mine!" Phillip said eagerly. "What if we find gold?!"
"You don't mind because you always look good. Jerk." Flynn said with a scowl.
"Thanks, Flynn!" Phillip beamed.
"Phillip, the mines have been barren for years." Milo said. "So no gold."
"Wait, then why weren't they filled in, if their isn't anything to mine?" Flynn asked.
"The mines are basically a tourist attraction now." Milo said. "I'm not surprised they built a gym down there."
Milo jumped into the air as a loud honk cut through their conversation. Their taxi had arrived.
The entrance to Midna Mines stood out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the town. It resembled a cave, only framed by wooden planks in a square formation. A track led down into the mines, and the darkness made it impossible to see inside.
Milo swallowed. "Let's do this."
Together, they entered the mines.
Once inside, it became to dark to see anything in front of them.
"I've got this!" Phillip said. He launched a pokeball into the air. It opened, spewing out a fountain of bright light.
"Togepriiii!" Angel greeted them cheerfully.
"Use Flash, Angel!" Phillip exclaimed.
Angel fluttered his wings as it began to glow. Around them, the cave became illuminated. Milo gasped.
The cave was enormous. The ceiling stretched away from them, almost like a new sky. A set of tracks went into darkness that even Angel's light didn't penetrate.
"Zu!"
"Look out!"
Flynn tackled Milo as a swarm of Zubat flew at them. Angel fluttered his wings rapidly, causing a gust of wind that kept them at bay.
Flynn helped Milo up. "Phillip! Blow the Zubat away from us!"
"Got it!"
Flynn grinned at Milo, and Milo grinned back. He knew what she was thinking.
Both Flynn aand Milo pulled out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Grimer, Poison Gas!"
"Graveler, Spark!"
Graveler and Grimer appeared and immediately jumped into action. Grimer opened its gaping maw and spewed a cloud of purple gas at the Zubat. It only engulfed some of them, but that was okay. Graveler shot sparks into the gas, and the gas ignited, swallowing the Zubat in a fiery explosion.
When the smoke cleared, they all lay on the floor, unconscious and worn.
"What was that all about?" Milo wondered. "Pokémon in public areas are usually more civil.
"I think it's because this is a gym," Flynn suggested. "They're trained to attack people and make it harder."
"Lovely," Milo muttered. "Just what we need."
The three of them kept walking, every so often getting attacked by a Pokémon. After a particularly nasty tussle with a group of Carbink, they came to an opening. Light streamed out of it..
They walked through it, and Milo was greeted by a battlefield drawn on the rocky floor in sand. The room was dimly lit, with black gemstones jutting from the walls. They glistened even in the low light. Milo looked closer, then realized that they were the source of the dim light.
"Challengers. How surprising."
Milo looked on the other side of the battlefield. Standing there was a boy about Milo's age. He was short, with fair skin that marked him as a Kalos native. He wore a pale pink shirt that had flaps on the bottom, the back one longer than the front. The shirt had a seven pointed star on it, designed to look like dripping paint. His skinny jeans were black and ruffled periodically down his legs. His shaggy hair was pale pink as well, and his eyes were almost white. He wore black wristbands along his arms and had a single piercing in his right ear.
"I'm Puck." He said, staring them down. His voice was like the gravel, and it almost hurt Milo's throat to listen to him talk. It echoed around the cavern. "And you three?"
"We're not challengers," Flynn said quickly. "He is." She pointed to Milo.
Puck examined Milo, but it seemed more like a glare. "What's your name, kid?"
"M-Milo." He said. "Milo Lantana. I'm here to challenge you."
"Yes, she said so." Puck said. "But do you think you're worthy of the Spriggan Badge?"
"I'm going to find out." Milo said, gaining confidence. He was tired of being told he couldn't do it, that he was incapable.
"Very well." Puck said. "I guess we'll play, then. Get ready to face Puck, the Dark Fairy of Midna Town!"