Normal POV

Adam and Amber were standing outside of the Pokemon Center, waiting for Megan and Jason to join them for Jason's gym battle.

"Amber, there's something that's been on my mind since yesterday." Adam said.

"What is it?" Amber asked as she turned to face him.

"Should we tell Jason and Megan about our time spent together yesterday at the hot spring?"

"No, it should be our little secret." she replied. "It's kind of exciting to have a secret between us about something so personal. Don't you agree?"

Yeah, I understand where she's coming from. It's a nice memory that only the two of us can share. Adam thought to himself.

"You're right, Amber. It'll be nice to have something that's just ours to share."

I wonder if, since Adam agreed with me, it means that I've managed to get through to his heart somehow? Did yesterday help us grow closer? I guess only time will tell if I can learn how Adam feels about me. But maybe I managed to show him some of my feelings yesterday...at least, I hope so. Amber thought.

Megan then walked out of the Pokemon Center, halting any further conversation from happening.

"Are you staying with us, Amber?" she asked.

"As much as I would like to, I have to move on now and travel to the next town where the next contest will be held, and start getting my Pokemon prepared for it." she replied. "The contest will be in Verdanturf Town. Will you be competing, Megan?"

"Yes, I will. I'll see you again in Verdanturf Town."

"Then I'll see you there." Amber said, and pulled Megan into a friendly hug.

But then, Amber slyly whispered, "By the way, if you don't tell Adam how you really feel about him soon, then I'll tell him how I feel about him first."

A shocked Megan blushed and suddenly pulled out of the hug, hearing that. Thankfully, Adam hadn't heard it. Megan's mind was racing.

I know that Amber won't hesitate to tell Adam. Amber is someone who takes action when she's certain about something. I know that I need to figure out how I feel for Adam for myself, and I need to figure it out fast, if I want to beat her to the punch! Megan frantically thought.

"Bye, Adam! Tell Jason that I said goodbye, since he hasn't came out yet?"

Adam nodded his head and Amber walked away.

"Why is your face all red, Megan? Is everything okay?" Adam asked, seeing how red Megan's face had become from Amber's comment to her.

"Y-Yes! Just a little hot." she replied quickly.

"That makes sense, since we're near an active volcano, so it's a very warm town, even in the winter." Adam said, believing her excuse.

Soon, Jason finally came out of the Pokemon Center.

"I'm ready for my gym battle!" he announced as he stopped beside the two. "I took a while because I was changing my Pokemon. I switched Weavile for Golduck, since Water Pokemon are strong against Fire Pokemon and Ice Pokemon are weak against them."

"Then let's get going!" Adam declared, then began explaining to Jason that Amber had left them, to continue her journey.

Jason's POV

We reached the gym and I went to my place on the battlefield as Adam and Megan took their seats on the side.

"The battle between the gym leader, Flannery, and the challenger, Jason Oak, will now begin. Each trainer will use three Pokemon with substitutions allowed. The battle will be over when all Pokemon on one side are unable to battle. Begin!"

I knew that her Pokemon were all very slow, so I planned to attack quickly and dodge anything that they threw at me.

"Meg, go!" Flannery cried, tossing her Pokemon. Her Slugma appeared.

"Go, Golduck!" I cried, tossing my Pokeball. Golduck appeared, and I wasn't going to waste any time with starting the battle!

"Water Gun, Golduck!"

"Flatten out to dodge, Meg!"

"Jump up above it and aim lower, Golduck!"

Her Pokemon wouldn't be able to avoid the attack now!

... ...

I knew that Slugma was a very slow Pokemon, so I had used Golduck's speed and constant Water attacks to overwhelm Flannery's Pokemon.

Golduck shook off the Body Slam attack that he had just endured. Flannery's Meg wouldn't last much longer. Golduck had been able to deal a lot of damage, being faster and having super-effective attacks.

"Use Water Pulse!" I commanded.

"Dodge it!"

But her Pokemon couldn't dodge in time, due to being so weakened, and took a direct hit.

"Meg is unable to battle. Golduck wins!" the ref announced.

Flannery returned her fainted Pokemon.

"Mag, come on out!" Her Magcargo came out, ready to continue the match.

"Flamethrower!" Flannery commanded.

"Hit it with Water Gun!" I cried.

Both moves collided and fought for dominance before they canceled one another out.

"Use Ember!"

"Dodge it and use Slash!"

Golduck dodged easily, using his speed.

"Double Team!" Mag managed to dodge Slash, thanks to using Double Team.

"Okay, Golduck. Let's find the real one! Use Hydro Pump and spin it!" Mag cried out as the Hydro Pump blasted the copies and made contact with it, sending it flying backwards.

... ...

"Dodge it and use Water Gun!" Golduck dodged a Flamethrower and fired a Water Gun towards Flannery's Pokemon.

"Dodge it!" But Magcargo wasn't able to dodge it.

Her Pokemon couldn't take many more hits. One more direct hit would likely finish this battle.

"Use Aqua Tail, Golduck!" Golduck ran and spun, making a quick direct hit before Flannery could command her Pokemon to dodge the attack.

"Mag is unable to battle. Golduck wins!" the ref announced.

"Golduck, come back and take a well-deserved rest." I said as I returned my Pokemon.

Golduck had fought two battles and had done a good job at helping me. But I could see that he was tired from using so many attacks and needed a rest. All that was left was Flannery's Torkoal, and then I would have another badge! I just needed one more Pokemon to pull it off!

"I'm impressed at your style and strategy, Jason. It's different from Adam's, but both of your styles work very well! Torkoal, go!"

"Gengar, let's go!"

"Use Flamethrower!"

"Float up and use Shadow Punch!"

Gengar dodged easily by floating out of the way. Shadow Punch also hit its mark.

"Confuse Ray, Gengar!"

"Hide in your shell!"

Torkoal hid and avoided being confused.

... ...

Torkoal was clearly Flannery's toughest Pokemon. Gengar was staying one step ahead of it, but Torkoal had landed some good hits with its Fire attacks.

"Use Shadow Ball! Then Shadow Punch!" Shadow Ball missed, since Torkoal dodged, but Shadow Punch landed, thanks to Gengar's quicker speed.

"No!" Flannery cried.

"Okay, Gengar! Use Sucker Punch!"

"Flamethrower, Torkoal!"

This time, Gengar was struck.

"Torkoal, use Smog!"

"Avoid it!"

Gengar floated above the smoke and reappeared behind Torkoal, avoiding the attack.

"Shadow Punch!"

"Behind you!"

But Torkoal couldn't avoid the attack in time and took a direct hit from behind, which sent it flying across the field. Torkoal laid on the ground, having fainted at last.

"Torkoal is unable to battle. Gengar wins! Which means the challenger, Jason Oak, is victorious!" the ref announced.

"Way to go, Gengar! Take a rest." I said, returning my Pokemon.

I then walked over to where Flannery approached me with the badge.

"Impressive battle, Jason. Here's your Heat Badge." she said.

"Thank you, Flannery." I said as I took it and put it in my badge case.

Adam and Megan then came over to us.

"Way to go, Jason!" Megan cried.

"Another badge down." Adam stated.

As we left the gym, we decided to get some lunch and then get back on the road. Verdanturf Town was a very long ways away, so we had to get moving as soon as possible in order to be there in time for Megan to compete in her next contest.

Author's Note: Jason has the same success battling Flannery that Adam had, and wins his badge!

However, Amber has decided that her time has come to leave the group and continue on her journey. She and Adam decide to have the knowledge of their day alone together remain their little secret. She also warns Megan that she may beat her to the punch in terms of confessing her feelings to Adam, since she knows that Megan is hiding those feelings for him, too.

Which girl will confess to Adam first? And what will his reply to them be? Will Megan emerge victorious in her next contest?

Let us know your thoughts on these things and stay tuned for the next chapter of Pokemon NG!