"Cynthia…"

There was no response.

"Cynthia."

Still no response.

"Cynthia!"

The Celestic Town teenager soon woke up with a start, accidentally hitting her head on the backboard of her bed. She groaned a bit as she soon regained her focus as she saw a pretty angry Dahlia looking at her from the edge of her bed.

"Uh, Dahlia? Is that you?" Cynthia asked groggily as she rubbed her head a bit.

"Yeah it is and I got a bone to pick with you but first what happened?" Dahlia as she went to Cynthia's side.

Cynthia sighed, yesterday after her loss to Byron she went back to the Pokemon Center and dropped off her Pokemon to be healed before heading to her room to sleep off the loss.

And apparently, it seemed she did that too well it would seem.

"Well after you stormed off, Aaron challenged Byron and won his badge from him. So you know, apologize to him for running off like a toddler when you see him next time." Dahlia said to her pretty angrily.

Cynthia attempted to defend herself by she realized that Dahlia was right. She should have acted better regardless of how she performed in the battle yesterday.

Soon the both of them headed to the lobby where Aaron was, he was having some breakfast while his Pokemon were eating next to the table.

"Hey Aaron, sorry for missing your battle yesterday." Cynthia said to him.

"It is fine Cynthia really! I figured that a brutal loss like that might make give you time to cool off." Aaron said to her.

Cynthia didn't know what to say in the face of the kindness that he showed her and soon smiled in returned. Soon Nurse Joy gently told Cynthia that her Pokemon were all healed and good as new.

"Thank you so much Nurse Joy!" Cynthia said as she grabbed the three Pokeballs and went outside to see her Pokemon.

Once she was outside, she released her Pokemon. Soon Gible, Budew and Shellos came out and seeing Cynthia they ran up to her wanting to see if she was ok.

"Hey guys, I am fine. Just overslept a bit." Cynthia said to all of them with a smile.

Soon all three of them nuzzled her as Cynthia signed a bit.

"Man, I am a horrible trainer…" Cynthia said.

The three of them were shocked, confused by why she would say something so obviously false.

"You three of some of the most loyal partners that a trainer could ask for… and yet I didn't even think twice about dumping on Nurse Joy and focusing on my pity party."

Gible, Budew and Shellos soon tried to cheer up knowing that Cynthia truly cared for all of them.

"Well I wouldn't really say that…" A unknown voice suddenly said to her.

Cynthia and her Pokemon suddenly turned around and saw Roark approaching her with a lazy smile on her face.

"I got to say, out of all the rookies my dad has crushed in his time as a gym leader. You certainly are the most interesting." He said to her.

"If you got something to say then say it, I certainly don't appreciate my time being wasted." Cynthia said to him.

Roark was taken aback by the sudden aggression but couldn't blame her as he took out a Pokeball.

"Simple, I want to help train you for your rematch with my dad."

Cynthia was taken aback a bit.

"Why?"

"Like I said before you are interesting, not to mention it would be nice to see you take my dad down a peg. And me and my partner Pokemon can help you train. Come on out Cranidos!" Roark said.

Soon Roark's partner Pokemon came out as it was a dinosaur-like Pokemon with black and blue skin all over and held a fierce gaze in his eyes. Cynthia soon took out her Pokedex and scanned Cranidos.

"Cranidos, the Head Butt Pokemon. A Rock-type, it lived in jungles around 100 million years ago. Its skull is as hard as iron."

Roark smiled as he petted Cranidos, a gesture the Rock-type greatly appreciated.

"You see, my Cranidos is a fossil Pokemon a lot like my dad's Shieldon. So I figured that training with him might helped you with Shieldon." Roark said to her.

Cynthia soon looked at her Pokemon and asked if they were up for it. Her Pokemon nodded yes, eager to win their first gym battle.

"Alright let's begin." Cynthia said as they started to train.

Training with Roark and his Cranidos took a full day to do, but at the end of it Cynthia truly felt like she was ready to challenge Byron to a rematch. Soon she stood outside the gym with Dahlia, Aaron and Roark next to her.

"Ready Cynthia?" Dahlia asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Cynthia said.

Byron soon came out and saw Cynthia in front of the gym and smiled a bit.

"Hey there kid, I suppose you are here for a rematch?"

Cynthia nodded yes as Byron let out a jolly laugh.

"Great, I was expecting that. Now come with me."

Soon they followed Byron to the battlefield where Cynthia stood on the opposite side from Byron as Dahlia, Aaron and Roark went to sit in the stands. Soon the referee appeared to announce the match.

"The Orebaugh City Gym Battle Rematch between the challenger Cynthia Shirona and the gym leader Byron van der Aart will now get underway. Each side will use three Pokemon and the battle will be over when one side's Pokemon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger may substitute their Pokemon. And begin!" The referee said.

Cynthia soon enlarged her Pokeball and sent out her first Pokemon.

"Alright then Budew battle dance!"

Soon Budew came out ready to battle as Byron soon had a small smile on his face.

"I see you decided to switch up your strategy from last time, a good choice but let's see if it works. Now go Onix!" Byron said sending out his first Pokemon.

Soon Byron's Onix came out and roared as Cynthia was awarded the first move.

"Alright Budew use Stun Spore!"

Budew soon let out a stream of orange powder that soon paralyzed Onix, annoying Byron.

"Onix fight through it and use Iron Tail!"

Onix took a while but soon his tail glowed white and tried to slam it down on Budew but Budew using her smaller size was able to dodge it and get behind him.

"Now Budew use Absorb!"

Budew nodded as she glowed red and shot out a beam that hit Onix as some of his strength was absorbed by Budew replenishing her while weakening him.

"Onix tried to confuse them with Dig."

Once again it took a while thanks to the paralyze but Onix soon managed to tunnel underground. Cynthia told Budew to stay sharp as she did wondering where Onix would came out from.

Soon she felt a rumbling underneath her feet as Onix came out and slammed into Budew for effect damage.

"Budew use Poison Sting!"

"Onix Rock Throw let's go!"

Soon Budew and Onix launched their two attacks, causing a huge explosion. This totally obscured Onix's sight but not Budew.

"Budew finish things off with Absorb!"

Budew soon shot a final red beam at Onix, draining the last of his strength until his was finished and knocked out.

"Onix is unable to battle! Budew is the winner!" The referee said.

Budew soon celebrated winning while Cynthia's friends also celebrated.

Byron soon recalled Onix thanking for his hard work. Soon he looked at Cynthia and smiled.

"Now now, I have to say that this new strategy of yours is quite good! But it won't be enough to win, now let's go Aron!" Byron said as he sent out his second Pokemon.

Soon Aron came out looking fierce as ever as Cynthia told Budew to stay sharp.

"Well will take the first move this time if you don't mind, now Aron use Metal Claw!"

Aron soon rushed forward with his great speed with his claws hard as iron.

"Budew keep a close eye on Aron and when he gets close use Stun Spore!"

Budew nodded as she kept a close eye on Aron and when he got close launched Stun Spore. However, it seemed like Aron was able to dodge the Stun Spore and land the Metal Claw making Budew yelp in pain.

"Now Aron use Rock Slide!"

"Counter with Poison Sting!"

The two attacks collided creating a cloud of smoke but this time it was Budew who couldn't see anything while Aron could see perfectly.

"Now use Headbutt!"

Charging through the smoke, Aron soon landed a picture-perfect headbutt on Budew, causing the Grass-type to be knocked out.

"Budew is unable to battle! The winner is Aron!"

Aron soon roared in triumph as Cynthia recalled Budew thanking her for her hard work.

"Alright now, Shellos battle dance!" Cynthia said sending out her Shellos.

Shellos soon came out as Aron gave her a determined look obviously remembering their last battle.

"Now time for some payback, Aron use Headbutt!"

Aron charged forward towards Shellos completely reckless as Cynthia was expecting this and was planning to have Shellos lure in Aron.

"Now when it gets close, use Mud Bomb!"

Shellos soon saw Aron get close and launched Mud Bomb at the Rock/Steel-type hitting him. The super effective Ground-type move took it's toll as Byron looked frustrated.

"Use Metal Claw!"

"Use Harden!"

Aron soon got close and tried hitting Shellos with it's Metal Claw attack but thanks to Harden, Shellos was barely feeling a thing.

"Now Shellos, point-blank Water Gun!"

Shellos soon let out a stream of water that hit Aron so hard that he went crashing into the gym wall, completely knocked out.

"Aron is unable to battle! Shellos is the winner!" The referee said.

Shellos soon let out a celebratory screech as Dahlia and Aaaron knew that Cynthia only had to beat one more Pokemon for the badge.

Byron soon recalled Aron thanking him for his hard work as he faced Cynthia.

"Well know kiddo, you have certainly gotten stronger in the days between your initial challenge and now. But the battle isn't over yet, in fact it is just began! Now Shieldon let's go!" Byron said as he sent out Shieldon.

Soon Shieldon came out looking as determined as ever as Cynthia told Shellos to be ready and to remember their training with Roark and Cranidos.

"Now use Flash Cannon!"

"Use Water Gun!"

The two beam attacks soon collided as Flash Cannon overpowered Water Gun and struck Shellos for extra damage.

"Shellos stay strong and use Recover!"

Soon a green glow washed over Shellos allowing her to recover from the damage she had taken from Flash Cannon.

"Now use Mud Bomb!"

"Use Protect!"

Shellos' Mud Bomb launched towards Shieldon who protected himself via a green forcefield making Cynthia growled in frustration.

"Now use Ancient Power!"

Soon Shieldon floated some rocks above him and launched them at Shellos with blinding speed, causing the Sea Slug Pokemon to be knocked out instantly.

"Shellos is unable to battle! Shieldon is the winner!" The referee said.

Cynthia soon recalled Shellos thanking her for her hard work before sending out her last Pokemon.

"Alright Gible, battle dance!"

Soon Gible came out as she looked ready to battle as the final leg of this gym battle soon commenced.

"Now Gible use Tackle!"

"Use Protect Shieldon!"

Gible soon ran and tackled Shieldon use protected himself via the green force-field and sent Gible flying. But Cynthia was waiting for this.

"Now Gible use Dragon Breath!"

Gible soon saw Shieldon and let out a dragon beam from her mouth as Shieldon was struck with extra damage due to Dragon Breath.

"Now Shieldon use Flash Cannon!"

Shieldon soon let loose of a stream of white energy from his maw as it headed straight for Gible.

"Gible use Sand Tomb!"

Gible managed to dodge Flash Cannon and use Sand Tomb to trap Shieldon in the attack making Byron panic.

"Now Gible use Dragon Breath!"

Gible soon launched Dragon Breath from her mouth which struck Shieldon head on and eventually knocked it out.

"Shieldon is unable to battle! Gible is the winner which means the winner of this battle is the challenger Cynthia!" The referee said.

Cynthia couldn't believe it. She won… she actually won her first badge. She soon ran onto the battlefield and hugged Gible while her friends in the stands cheered her victory.

Soon outside the gym, Cynthia and her Pokemon met up with her friends.

"Congratulations Cynthia!" Dahlia said to her.

"Thank you so much Dahlia!" Cynthia said as she hugged her making Dahlia blush a little.

Cynthia soon thanked Roark for the training he provided as he said it was no problem. So Byron and his assistant approached her.

"Young lady, you and your Pokemon demonstrated some truly amazing battling today. It is my honor to present you with the Coal Badge!"

Cynthia thanked him as she showed the badge to Gible, Budew and Shellos before putting it in her badge case.

"Now were is the next gym.." Aaron said.

"Oh that is easy, it is in Eterna City which isn't too far from here!" Roark told them with a smile.

"The Eterna City gym, I think you will find the gym leader their quite as formidable as me!" Byron said to them.

Cynthia heard that and got pumped as the three soon thanked them and began to make their way to Eterna City as their journey continued.