I stood on one side of the battlefield with Roxanne in front of me on the other side. Today was my battle against Roxanne. Jason and Megan had taken their seats and the ref stepped up to introduce the battle. Pikachu had decided to perch on Megan's shoulder, since I wouldn't be using him in my battle.

"The battle between gym leader, Roxanne, and the challenger, Adam Ketchum, will now begin. Each trainer will use two Pokemon and the battle will be over when both Pokemon on one side are unable to battle. Begin!"

"Mudkip, let's show 'em!" I cried, tossing my Pokeball. This would be his first gym battle.

"Geodude, go!" Roxanne cried.

"Use Water Gun, Mudkip!"

"Dodge it!"

But I had been training Mudkip in many different ways in order to prepare for this battle, including the speed at which he could launch his attacks. So there was no way that Geodude could avoid the Water Gun!

"Mega Punch!" Roxanne cried.

"Dodge!" I cried.

But Mudkip couldn't dodge the Mega Punch in time. Compared to Treecko and Torchic, Mudkip was likely the slowest Hoenn starter Pokemon.

"Rock Throw!" Roxanne wasn't wasting any time while Mudkip was down. Mudkip cried out in pain as the rocks pelted his body.

"Come on, Mudkip! Shake it off!" Mudkip stood up and shook himself. He was new, but he was very resilient!

"You may have a type advantage, Adam. But as a gym leader, I know how to battle in spite of those disadvantages!" Roxanne declared. "Your father used his Treecko to battle my Geodude and had a type advantage over me, but Geodude still won! He learned his lesson...and now it's time for you to learn yours!"

"Are you gonna fight or lecture me, Roxanne?!" I shouted in defiance, unafraid of her words or my chances of winning!

"Very well, Adam. Geodude, use Rollout!"

"Mudkip, aim at the ground and use Water Gun!"

The burst of water shot Mudkip up into the air and out of the range of Rollout. He landed on the ground after Geodude had rolled by underneath him.

"Circle around and try again!" Roxanne yelled.

"Use Water Gun to dodge again!" I yelled.

Mudkip blasted himself into the air again, but Roxanne tried a different approach this time.

"Jump!" Geodude's rolling body hopped into the air and stopped face-to-face with Mudkip.

Both Pokemon were in each other's attack range and Roxanne and I yelled out simultaneously...

"Water Gun!"

"Mega Punch!"

Both Pokemon readied their attacks, but only one could land their blow first! Who would be quicker on the draw?!

We got our answer as Mudkip's Water attack blasted Geodude into the ground, knocking it out!

"Geodude is unable to battle. Mudkip wins!"

"Way to go, Mudkip!" I cried as he landed on the ground. Mudkip had successfully won his first gym battle. Our practice had paid off!

Roxanne and I both returned our Pokemon. I didn't want to push Mudkip too hard in his first gym battle by making him fight twice.

"Nosepass, go!"

"Rhydon, let's show 'em!"

It would be two Rock Pokemon battling it out in this finale!

"Use Rock Throw!"

"Use Horn Drill to cut through them!"

As the rocks flew towards Rhydon, he shattered them into pieces with his spinning horn.

"Use Dig!" I cried. Rhydon use his drill to burrow under the battlefield.

"Stay calm, Nosepass. And be alert. Force him out with Rock Tomb!" Rocks landed across the battlefield, sending tremors as they fell. Tremors that Rhydon could likely feel underground.

"Use Earthquake!" I cried as Rhydon appeared, bursting up from the ground. I stumbled slightly as the ground shook. Nosepass was injured greatly. After all, Ground attacks were super-effective against ordinary Rock Pokemon.

I knew that this battle wouldn't last long.

... ...

Sure enough, Nosepass went down without much effort. I saw the shocked look on Roxanne's face. That was all it took for Nosepass to faint?

"Nosepass is unable to battle. Rhydon wins! The winner of this battle is Adam Ketchum!"

I cheered as Roxanne and I returned our Pokemon. Megan and Jason ran over and congratulated me as Roxanne walked over to us.

"I must say, you're an even stronger trainer than your dad was at your age. If you keep working hard, you'll definitely become the next Pokemon Master." Roxanne said.

"Thank you. I've had some great role models to look at and watch while I was growing up. I'm doing my very best to not only make my parents proud, but to also grow as a trainer and an individual. I won't stop until I become the next Pokemon Master!"

"Here's your badge." Roxanne said as she handed the Stone Badge over to me.

We then left the gym and headed back towards the Pokemon Center.

"Tomorrow will be my turn to show my talents." Megan said, referring to her contest.

"Why did you decide to watch me battle? You saw me battle your grandfather in Petalburg City and your contest is tomorrow, so I assumed you would want to devote all of your time to training for tomorrow's contest." I asked.

"I want to be there to support you, Adam. After all, you watch me in my contests. What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't support you in return?" she replied.

I nodded my head. That made sense.

We then reached the Pokemon Center and I looked over at Megan. "I'll help you train for tomorrow as soon as my Pokemon are healed."

"Thank you. I want to be as prepared as possible. This time, I want to win my first ribbon!" she declared, with Eevee crying out determinedly.

I walked over to the front counter and found Nurse Joy.

"Hi, could you heal my Pokemon?"

"Certainly."

I handed over my Pokeballs containing Mudkip and Rhydon.

As we walked away, we noticed someone familiar: Megan's older sister, April.

"Hey, April!" Megan called out. Her sister heard her and walked over to us.

Megan's POV

"I called mom to let her know that I made it to Rustboro City and she told me about your run-in with Team Rocket." April said.

"I promise you, I'm okay. And Mom let me continue traveling with Adam and Jason, despite the danger. Mom said that she trusts me and that I will be safe with Adam, just like how she was safe with Ash when she traveled." I assured her.

"I did give her the option to go on her own and travel alone if she felt like she wasn't safe, but she refused. I'd never willingly put my friends in danger." Adam added.

"Wow, he's so selfless and protective, just like his dad. That's just one more reason why you probably love him. Right, Sis?" April whispered, teasing me, like usual.

"Yes, he's all of those things, but he's still just my friend! Now hush, before he hears you!" I whispered back.

"Just a friend, huh? Well, whatever you say." she whispered with a disbelieving smirk, before leaning back from my ear.

"I'm impressed by your bravery in the face of Team Rocket. I was always the braver sister, so what made you act that way and where did your sudden burst of courage come from?" April asked.

"Adam and Jason helped me change. They showed no fear, facing Team Rocket. So I knew that I needed to do the same. I needed to let them see that they could trust in me to stand strong and help if we ever faced any danger on our journey." I replied.

"Mom also told me about Christina's parents." April said, moving to the next subject.

"Yes, Megan gave us the details after she found out from May." Adam said.

"Judging by the stories about Harley that Mom told us, I wouldn't be surprised if he's had a hand in our parents' marriage problems." April said.

"Mhmm. I hope that Mom can find out the truth about what's going on." I said.

"But then there's still the issue of Dad seeing Christina's mom." I said, frowning.

"There has to be a reason as to why he's around her so often. But whatever it is, I won't forgive him until I know the truth. No matter how much it hurts." April said, frowning.

I nodded my head and said, "I don't want to see Mom hurt, so I hope that he isn't cheating. I won't let him off the hook until the truth is revealed. But if he IS cheating, I'll never forgive him for hurting Mom like that."

April turned to leave. "I'll see you in the contest tomorrow, Sis."

"See ya, April."

Adam's Pokemon were healed a little while later and we both went outside to get in my final training for the contest.

Author's Note: Adam succeeds in winning his second Hoenn gym badge, thanks to an old Pokemon and a new Pokemon!

But now, it's Megan's turn to show everyone what she's made of! Her next contest is coming up in the next chapter of Pokemon NG!

How do YOU think she'll fare this time?