Nerves weren't something that Cynthia usually had to deal with. She had always been self-assured most times.
However for this gym battle, she was pretty nervous.
She was currently at the Pokemon Center, in the middle of the lobby drinking orange juice with her breakfast sandwich as she was trying to formulate a plan to use against Leonia.
She looked at her three Pokemon: Gible, Roselia and Shellos. Gible resisted most Grass-type attacks thanks to her part Dragon-typing not to mention with some of the new moves that she had learned recently made Cynthia decide to send her out first.
Then there was Roselia, due to her being another Grass-type, most of the attacks from Leonia's own Pokemon wouldn't do much damage. However that could be said for Roselia as well, but she still decided to use her second Pokemon to use.
And finally, there was Shellos. There was no way around it, due to her being a Water-type, she was the worst option to use against Leonia but she knew that she could always rely on her indomitable spirit. Still she was going to be used last.
Having decided which of her Pokemon to use in which order, she decided to focus on her sandwich as her Roselia soon came over to her.
"Hey Roselia what is up?" Cynthia asked her Grass/Poison-type as she gently rubbed her head.
Roselia soon gave her a determined cry, indicating that she was ready for this gym battle, especially getting a chance to battle Leonia's Roserade.
"Well it seems that your Roselia is ready to battle." A unknown voice say to her.
Cynthia and her Roselia soon turned around and saw Leonia and her Roserade entering the Pokemon Center. Cynthia soon saw Leonia's usual confident smile on her as she got up to greet her.
"Leonia, it is nice to see you this morning."
"Same Cynthia, I came to check up on you guys and see when you guys were coming to the gym."
Her Roserade nodded as she gave a confident smirk to Roselia. Roselia soon glared back as Cynthia swore she saw sparks erupting between both Pokemon.
"Looks like Roserade is also ready for your challenge. I'll be at the gym when you decide to challenge me." Leonia said to Cynthia.
Cynthia soon nodded, as she looked at her Roselia. She had a determined look on her face as if she didn't want to lose.
"Right, let's do it this."
Soon once Dahlia and Aaron soon got up and ate their breakfast, they soon went to the gym where they went inside. There they saw a battlefield covered by what looked like a forest with various trees and grass all over the battlefield.
Soon to the side of the battlefield were Cheryl and Gardenia who waved to them. Soon Dahlia and Aaron joined them as Cynthia took her place across from Leonia.
Soon one of the gym referees soon came forward and declare the beginning of the battle.
"This Eterna City Gym Battle between the challenger Cynthia Shirona and the gym leader Leonia Rosen will now commence. Each side will have the use of three Pokemon and the battle is over when one side's Pokemon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger may substitute Pokemon. Are both trainer's ready?"
Both Cynthia and Leonia soon nodded yes.
"Then let's the battle begin!"
Cynthia soon threw out her first Pokemon.
"Gible, battle dance!"
Soon Gible came out and did a happy dance and got ready to face whatever Pokemon Leonia sent out.
"You know Cynthia, Cheryl told me a lot about you and your skills as a trainer. Now I am excited to see what you and your Pokemon have got! Wormadam, full blossom!"
Soon a strange plant-like Pokemon soon came out and floated in front of Gible, looking ready to battle.
Soon Dahlia brought out her Pokedex and scanned Wormadam.
"Wormadam (Plant Cloak), the Bagworm Pokemon. A Bug and Grass-type and the evolved form of Burmy. When Burmy evolves, its cloak becomes a part of its body. Wormadam's cloak is never shed."
The referee soon told Cynthia could have the first move.
"Great! Ok Gible use Sand Attack and then Dragon Breath!"
Gible nodded as she soon whipped up some sand sent it Wormadam's way before unleashing a powerful Dragon Breath headed straight towards her.
"Wormadam dodge!"
Despite the sand in her eyes, Wormadam managed to dodge the attack making everyone shocked.
"Now use Bug Bite!"
Wormadam soon ran forward and landed a nasty bite on Gible, making the land shark roll back in pain.
"Gible don't give in and use Bulldoze!"
Gible soon got up and pounded the ground making it rumble to the point where Wormadam was readily affected and damaged.
"Now follow up with Bite."
Gible soon ran up and returned with a bite of her own making Wormadam yelp in pain.
"Shake Gible off with String Shot!"
Wormadam soon blasted off several strings that wrapped up Gible in string. Gible soon try to get it off her, but it was in vain.
"Now finish off with Razor Leaf!"
Wormadam soon sent off several glowing and sharp leaves that hit Gible in several places as Gible fell over, knocked out.
"Gible is unable to battle, Wormadam is the winner!"
Cynthia soon sighed as she brought out Gible's Pokeball and returned her thanking her for her battling as she brought out Roselia's ball.
"Now Roselia, battle dance!"
Soon Cynthia's Roselia came out as Leonia smiled at seeing a fellow Grass-type at her gym being used by a challenger.
"Roselia use Magical Leaf!"
Roselia soon sent out several differently colored leafs that headed straight for Wormadam
"Use Protect!"
Wormadam nodded as a blue force field soon came over her protecting her from the colored leaves… only for Leonia to realize the attack was a decoy as Roselia was behind Wormadam.
"Use Poison Sting!"
Roselia soon let out a string of purple-colored stings that hit Wormadam hard from behind and soon knocked her out in one attack.
"Wormadam is unable to battle, Roselia is the winner!" The referee said.
Cynthia's friends celebrated as Cynthia smiled but soon saw her Roselia panting a bit and recalled her to so she could get some rest.
"Thank you for you work Wormadam, now then Tangela, full blossom!" Leonia said sending out her next Pokemon.
Tangela soon came out as she looked ready to battle as well. Dahlia soon scanned her with her Pokedex as well.
"Tangela, the Vine Pokemon. A Grass-type, hidden beneath a tangle of vines that grows nonstop even if the vines are torn off, this Pokemon's true appearance remains a mystery."
"Shellos, battle dance!"
Cynthia soon sent out her Shellos making Leonia soon laugh a bit.
"You certainly are a interesting challenger Cynthia, let's see if your trust in your Pokemon is well placed though. Tangela, use Vine Whip!"
Tangela soon sprouted vines from her body and smashed them against Shellos but they didn't seem to do anything. Cynthia knew what Leonia was probably going to do and had Shellos use Harden before Tangela's attack.
"Now Shellos, use Mud Shot!"
Shellos soon spat out two great gobs of mud and spat them out at Tangela blinding her while doing great damage as well.
"Now fellow up with Ancient Power!"
Shellos nodded as she soon summoned rocks and threw them at Tangela who fired back with Bullet Seed creating and huge cloud of dust that obscured the view for both Pokemon. Tangela couldn't see a damn thing until it was too late, as huge stream of water came towards her slammed her into the gym walls, knocking her out.
"Tangela is unable to battle! Shellos is the winner!"
Cynthia soon smiled but she didn't celebrate as she knew there was one more Pokemon she still needed to beat.
"Thanks Tangela you battled well. As for you Cynthia, I have to admit you are quite impressive. You and all of your Pokemon have shown great courage and resilience in the face of my Grass-type Pokemon. But you know as well as I do that this battle isn't over yet. Now meet my darling ace Pokemon! Roserade, full blossom!" Leonia said as she threw out her final Pokemon.
Soon her Roserade came out as it captivate everyone with her beauty and grace. Once again, Dahlia pulled out her Pokedex and scanned the Pokemon.
"Roserade, the Bouquet Pokemon. A Grass and Poison-type and the evolved form of Roselia, after captivating opponents with its sweet scent, it lashes them with its thorny whips."
Cynthia looked at Roserade and could feel her strength emanating from where it stood. So she knew that she had to finish this quickly.
"Shellos quick use Ancient Power."
Shellos nodded and quickly fired the attack at Roserade, but with blinding speed she dodged it and ended up behind Shellos surprising Cynthia.
"Use Poison Jab!"
Roserade's flowers soon glowed purple and struck Shellos with devastating power, leaving her poisoned quickly.
And before Cynthia could even call out another attack for Shellos, Leonia had Roserade use Solar Beam to knock out Shellos.
"Shellos is unable to battle, Roserade is the winner!"
Everything had happened so fast that no one, least of all Cynthia had time to process what happened. Soon with a sigh, Cynthia soon recalled Shellos and thanked for her efforts.
She only had one Pokemon left and she knew she better make this count.
"Roselia, battle dance!"
Roselia soon came back out for the final leg of this battle, she soon saw her evolved counterpart and glared her down as Roserade did the same.
"Ok Roselia use Magical Leaf!"
"Roserade use Energy Ball!"
The two Grass-type attacks collided in midair, creating an explosion that was felt throughout the gym.
Roserade soon appeared in front of Roselia with her flowers glowing purple.
"Roserade Poison Jab."
But Cynthia was counting on this as she smirked as Leonia realized she had just fallen into her trap.
"Now use Mega Drain!"
Roselia soon punched her evolved counterpart in the face and send her flying back as she collected energy from her. Roserade got up but was clearly wobbled as the Mega Drain had a effect on her.
"Now use Poison Sting!"
Roselia soon used Poison Sting and soon decimated Roserade's defense as she fell to one knee clearly looking worn out.
Leonia was between a rock and a hard place. She wanted to use Solar Beam but she didn't know if it would be enough to finish Roselia.
Ultimately, she went with her gut.
"Use Solar Beam!"
Roserade soon began charging up but Cynthia smirked knowing she had won.
"Now Roselia, use Magical Leaf!"
Roselia soon jumped up in the air and fired several colored leaves at Roserade decimating her and knocking her out for good.
"Roserade is unable to battle, that means the Roselia is the winner. That also means the winner of the gym battle is the challenger Cynthia Shirona!"
Cynthia exploded in joy as she she went to hug Roselia and her friends celebrated from the stands. Leonia went over to Roserade to see how see was doing as she simply smiled at Cynthia and Roselia celebrating.
Later on in the evening, Leonia was outside the gym after Dahlia and Aaron's victories as she gave them all the Forest Badge.
"All three of you guys display immense strength and a great connection with your Pokemon. As such, it is my honor to give you all the Forest Badge!"
Cynthia thanked her as she picked up her second gym badge and looked at it with pride. Soon they all said their goodbyes and headed back to Pokemon Center, intent on continuing their journey in the morning.