The next day, I travelled south, heading to the complex Roxie recommended yesterday. I arrived there in no time at all. Its located by the water's edge, across the sound from Virbank Harbour. Virbank Complex is a strange place; housing wild pokémon that wander in from the mountains and the many different structures built to power many of the city's buildings and resident's homes.

As I wander in, I'm greeted by a man who introduces himself as the boss of a group of workers who are currently on the job.

"Welcome!" he says, "you're a trainer, aintcha? How about a bit'o trainin'? It's about time for a break anyways."

"Eh? Uh, sure." Uh…

"Great!" He goes over the side of the warehouse and pulls on a cord that sounds four whistles at the top of a stone pole.

"They'll be eager to show you their pokémon. Many of them can be found here in the complex so you're welcome to catch them to your heart's content."

"Thanks," I say.

"You might also run into some other younger trainers. Best of luck out there, girly."

It's like a safari.

Fighting inside was open and free not claustrophobic as I initially thought it was going to be. I defeated some workers and, as the head honcho mentioned, other younger trainers who were there too. I saw Magbys, Elekids, Patrats, Growlithes, Koffings and even an Audino sneaking around behind one of the structures. But no Magnemite. So I asked.

"Magnemite?" one of the workers I fought with says. "WeIl, I caught mine around one of the electric generators. They're located on the western side of the complex, away from the water, closer to the forest that leads into the mountain."

"That makes sense. Thank you."

"Sure," he says giving a thumbs up.

I go over to the other side. It's already nearing sunset by the time I get there. Sure enough, the electric generators attract electric types to this vicinity as I can see by the Elekids hanging around. Surer still, the Magnemite are here; a horde of them, gathered above the generators.

"Hey! Magnemite!"

Some of them scatter away into the forest. All the Elekids do the same. But some of them move in unison towards me. One of them jets out from below and stops them. It seems to be speaking to them, moving its two magnets about. One of them looks angry at it and waves its magnets around frantically. But the Magnemite just turns around, completely ignoring the other, and proceeds to move in front of me. It releases a light spark.

"…Okay. I'll battle you then. Are you ready?"

It releases another spark.

"Go! Riolu!"

The other Magnemite look on from the side.

"Riolu, use Quick Attack!"

Riolu moves quick and strikes the Magnemite, but it doesn't look like it took any damage. Next is it's turn. It draws in power then releases a shockwave at Riolu.

"Dodge it, Riolu!"

But it's relentless and keeps on charging and discharging shockwaves at Riolu.

"Dodge!"

But it manages to catch Riolu's toe. Riolu falls face flat on the ground. The Magnemite waits above.

"Riolu! When you stand, aim above you and use Force Palm!"

Riolu gets up. It looks up and readies its open paw for a hit, but Magnemite releases a Sonic Boom that blasts Riolu back to the ground. And it doesn't stop there, next it releases Super Sonic and confuses Riolu. With Riolu now confused, it stumbles around on it's feet, struggling to stay upright.

"Come on, Riolu! Fight the confusion! Concentrate!"

Magnemite begins to charge power.

"Riolu, use Quick Attack to regain your focus back!"

It waits for a moment and in the next instance, right after Magnemite unleashes its Thunder Shock, it runs rapidly around and stops.

"That worked! Yes! Okay, now, get in close with Quick Attack and use Force Palm!"

Riolu nods and rushes in, closing onto Magnemite.

"Force Palm!"

Startled, Magnemite flinches as Riolu strikes it down. It opens its eye and floats back up. It seems angry as it flies straight towards Riolu.

"Endure!"

Riolu stands still and braces itself. Magnemite collides with it.

"Use Force Palm!"

Riolu hits it again, sending it through the air back a bit.

"Gotcha."

I throw a pokéball at it. The capsule closes and moves around a bit as I hold my hand in fists up to my chin. The ball stops moving.

"Yes! We did it! We caught a Magnemite!" I give Riolu a high five.

I let the freshly caught Magnemite out to say hello.

"My name's Catheri. Pleased to meet you."

It just stares back. I try to touch one of its magnets, but it slaps my hand away and turns around.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

It turns back around and releases a spark. I smile. It seems to do the same, telling by its eye. Riolu cries out to it, but it turns the other way. Riolu's shoulders shrug down. Magnetite turns back around and smiles. Riolu laughs. Magnemite releases another spark.

"You're a bit of a joker, aren't you?"

The group of Magnemite move in closer. There seems to be a bit of a discussion between the one I caught and the others in the group. It turns around to see me then turns back to the group. They continue their conversation for another moment and then it moves right next to me. The other Magnemite look on for a bit before leaving for the forest.

I look to both Magnemite and Riolu and say, "Well, come on, everyone, lets get out of here."

Back in the pokémon centre, I think more decidedly about bringing the new Magnemite into battle with me.

No. I know I can do it with just Servine and Riolu. Yeah.

I decide to leave Magnemite in the computer for now.

Time for a rematch.

Down the idle street, through the grimy alleyway, past the neon signs, down the narrow stairwell, under the spotlight, I find myself in Roxie's gym once more. Standing before her again, the referee says, "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the rematch between Gym Leader Roxie and Pokémon Trainer Catheri!" The crowd cheers on.

"Alright, you both know the rules. Lets have a good battle. When both trainer's acknowledge, the battle commences!"

Roxie nods.

"I'm ready," I nod.

"Battle begin!"

"Go, Koffing!"

"Go! Riolu!"

"Did you get Magnemite?"

"I did."

"Do you have it with you?"

"No, I didn't bring it."

"Then? What about my suggestion?"

"Thank you for that suggestion, but I'd rather win this battle without it."

"You're as hardheaded and stubborn as my dad."

"No. I'm not hardheaded or stubborn. I just want to win against you without type advantages. I want to win on pure power and skill."

"…Really? Show me then. That power and skill."

"Riolu! Use Quick Attack!"

"Koffing, Smoke Screen!"

"Concentrate!"

"Use Poison Gas!"

"Hold your breathe and use Force Palm!"

Riolu strikes Koffing from within the black cloud as its releasing its poisonous fumes. Koffing rotates in midair as it veers out of the cloud.

"Now! Strike it with Quick Attack!"

Riolu flies out from within the dark smoke and hits Koffing square in the face.

"Alright, you're moving more faster now, but we won't be outdone! Koffing! Cover everything in Smoke Screen! Bring the visibility down! Down! Down!"

Koffing rises higher and starts releasing the black thick smoke as it rotates from one end of the field to the other. Now even I can't see anything around me.

I cough before saying, "Riolu…use Quick Attack from the short end of the field to the other."

"I can hear the pitter patter of Riolu's feet running across the field! It looks like…oh! There it is! I can see it from the clearing its made underneath! This is incredible! The quick thinking from Catheri to use a move to create momentum and force has fanned away some of the smoke!"

"Koffing, strike it down from above using Tackle!"

"Hold, Riolu."

As soon as I see the plume appear from above, I yell, "Endure!"

Riolu holds firm whilst Koffing comes down hard.

"Counter!"

Riolu strikes back from close proximity.

"Force Palm!"

It pushes Koffing back with a forceful hit.

"Koffing! Poison Gas!"

"Don't let it! Use Quick Attack!"

Riolu moves in circles around Koffing making it difficult for it to use Poison Gas.

"Now, strike it with Force Palm!"

From behind, Riolu hits Koffing.

"This is an incredible show of Riolu's speed!"

"Koffing, Smoke Screen!"

But it does nothing as it just stays afloat.

"It's been paralysed!?" exclaims Roxie in disbelief.

"Koffing is now at the mercy Riolu!" the referee states.

"Quick Attack!"

Riolu strikes.

"Force Palm!"

Again.

"Quick Attack!"

Again.

"Force Palm!"

And once more.

"Unbelievable show of composure from Catheri! She has managed to take down Koffing!"

"Koffing, return. Alright, you're up. Go! Grimer!"

"And out comes Grimer! This is unfinished business for Riolu. Who will come out on top this time? "

"Riolu, return!"

"Pokémon Trainer Catheri has chosen to bench Riolu. Which pokémon will she use against Grimer?"

"Go, Servine!"

"She has opted for Servine. Okay, what strategy will she think of or is thinking of now?"

"Grimer, Minimise!"

"Servine, use Growth!"

"Minimise."

"Growth!"

"Grimer has shrunken down to twice its size while Servine has grown slightly larger!"

"Grimer, Harden!"

"Leer!"

As Grimer tries to strengthen it's viscous body, Servine stops it from doing so with its glowing red eyes.

Roxie laughs. "Okay, this just got a little more interesting."

Physical attacks 'sink' into its body so, "Use Leaf Tornado!"

Servine concentrates and creates a twister of sharp leaves around Grimer.

"And it's a hit! Although by a fraction, Leaf Tornado has damaged the sluggish Grimer!"

Roxie says, "If this is the pace you're willing to move at, this'll be a long battle. Grimer! Use Sludge!"

Grimer upchucks toxic sludge from within its body.

"Dodge it!"

Servine slithers out of the way. The sludge smears a spot on the battlefield.

"Keep your distance."

"Yeah, that's right. Keep your distance so we can use Harden."

Grimer begins to tense up.

"Servine, move in close and use Leer!"

Again, Servine stops Grimer from finishing its move.

"Now, Grimer! Sludge!"

"Dodge!"

That was close. "Can you use Leaf Tornado from this distance?"

Servine concentrates, but it doesn't look like its possible from half the field away.

"Okay. Get it close."

Servine moves in.

"Grimer, Harden!"

"Use Leer!"

After Servine's eyes stop glowing, Roxie shouts, "Disable!"

Oh no.

"You can't stop us now. Harden!"

This time, Grimer tenses up and strengthens its body. And not once, but twice.

"Harden!"

Move! "Use Wrap!"

Servine coils around Grimer while its hardening.

"Uh-uh, big mistake. Grimer, sludge."

"Uh oh, it looks like Servine is in big trouble now!"

"Let go!"

But it's a call too late. Grimer upchucks sludge onto Servine, drenching and poisoning it.

"Use Venoshock!"

"Dodge! Run away!"

Grimer's attack hits Servine as it slowly slithers away.

"Servine is unable to battle! What a turn of the tide from Roxie! Just what you'd expect from a gym leader!"

I switch the fainted Servine with Riolu. Even though its still energetic, it would have been ideal to have two nearly healthy pokémon instead of one fainted and one healthy to face off against Roxie's third pokémon.

"Riolu! Quick Attack!"

"Grimer, Minimise!"

Riolu strike down at it.

"That did some damage, but not enough as Grimer's hardened body has made its defense greater! It's gonna take more than a few Quick Attacks to bring down this Grimer!"

"Disable!"

"This is a repeat of last time when these two faced each other!"

"Use Force Palm!"

As Riolu hits Grimer, I notice it flinch from the impact.

Harden.

"Sludge!"

"Dodge it!"

Riolu dives backwards, out of the way of the oncoming Sludge.

"Harden!"

Yes, do that. "Riolu, move in and use Force Palm!"

"Drench it! Sludge!"

"Dodge!"

Riolu slides and dodges the gunk.

"Yes! Force Palm!"

"You think that attack will do anything?"

Riolu strikes Grimer with its powerful Force Palm, pressing it down into the ground slightly.

"Grimer, use Sludge!"

But there's no reaction from it.

"Sludge! Hit it with Sludge!"

"What's this? Grimer looks like it's been paralysed! But, how?"

She's figured it out by now by the look of her face.

Roxie laughs. She says, "Before you get close to defeating Grimer, it will have broken through this paralyses or Riolu will run out of power points and faint from exhaustion!"

"Are you sure about that?"

This cheeky girl.

"Riolu! Force Palm! Concentrate all your strength into your fist!"

Riolu closes its eyes to fully concentrate all its aura into its tiny paw.

"Harden!"

Grimer's defense rises even higher.

"Now, unleash your full power!"

Riolu opens its eyes and strikes down at Grimer. The impact stirs up all the dust on the floor and in the air. It also makes a little crater where Grimer lies inside, fainted.

The ref stutters a bit, saying, "I-I can't believe what I have just seen! That was some incredible show of power from Riolu! But, it is looking mighty tired and there's still one last pokémon up Roxie's sleeve!"

"Grimer, return! Right, enough playing around."

From the pokéball appears a Whirlipede.

"And it's finally Whirlipede's turn to battle! This'll be a spiky finisher to this battle!"

The crowd boos the ref's lame pun. He just grins.

"Whirlipede! Rollout!"

Whirlipede gains traction, speeding towards Riolu.

"Dodge."

Riolu dives out of the way.

"Screech!"

Whirlipede comes to a stop and releases a horrible screech that shakes my whole body. Riolu holds its ears in pain, dropping its guard.

"Poison Sting!"

"Dodge!"

But the projectile needle travels fast through the air and impacts Riolu's leg. Riolu stands, poisoned.

"Whirlipede! Rollout!"

Here it comes again. "Riolu, Endure!"

Riolu takes the hit. Whirlipede's still spinning round in place.

"Counter!"

"Protect!"

"What!? It knows that move?"

The Whirlipede fully protects itself from the Counter.

"Poison Tail!"

The two pairs of horns, four in total, steep in poison and strike Riolu. If it wasn't already poisoned from Poison Sting, coming into contact with Whirlipede's horns would've done the job.

This one is quick. And it knows more moves than the other two. Physical contact is risky. It knows Protect, so only Riolu can break through it. Ugh, what a bother.

"Riolu, Quick Attack!"

Through its weakened state, Riolu still moves at its fast speed. It goes for the hit.

"Defense Curl!"

Whirlipede reduces the damage taken from Riolu's quick strike.

"Whirlipede, Poison Tail!"

"Dodge!"

Riolu dives out of the way just in the nick of time.

"How long can you keep this up?" Roxie says. "It's only a matter of time."

Riolu's pained face upsets me. I'm gonna lose this match. I'm gonna to lose to her. Again.

"Whirlipede, Rollout!"

"Riolu!"

It locks its eyes to mine.

"Concentrate all your energy into your Force Palm again!"

"It's useless. Riolu will faint."

"It's not over until it's over."

"We'll see."

Riolu's right paw glows blue. Whirlipede comes in at full speed. And at the last second, a shockwave pushes Roxie and I back a bit. Whirlipede stands in place, looking exhausted with Riolu's palm holding it back. Rioli faints, collapsing on the floor.

"And that concludes this match! Riolu is unable to battle! The winner is Roxie!"

The crowd cheers, not for me.

Rematch… "I want a rematch."

Roxie continues talking with her bandmates.

"I want a rematch!"

Roxie turns to look at me. She says, "What?"

"…I would like a rematch. Please."

Someone in the crowd says, "She did say please."

"You're exhausted," Roxie says. "Go on home, kid."

"I don't care."

"Excuse me?"

"I said I don't care! I would like a rematch, right here, right now!"

"Ohoh!" the referee says over the mic, "looks like this is turning into a fierce rivalry!"

"Listen, girl," Roxie begins to say but is cut off by one of her bandmates.

"You should let her, Roxie. Look at her, this must mean a lot to her. A trainer just doesn't give up. You know that better than any of us."

Roxie turns around. She shakes her head and says, "Fine! Heal our pokémon and we'll continue this after a five minute break."

She and the others leave the field. After I calm down a bit, I too leave to take a breather.