Today was the day that I would challenge Winona for my Feather Badge. Jason had successfully won his badge yesterday and now it was my turn. I had no doubts about winning today, because I had chosen the perfect team to use against Winona's Flying Pokemon.

I took my place on the elevated platform and waited. Jason, Megan, and Skye were watching down below on the ground.

"Oh great sky above, I ask that you grant us way. Grant us your power to comfort even the strongest of stormy winds. Please guide us to your great blue world and let us share in your infinite power and majesty!" Winona said as she fell down onto her knees, giving her usual blessing before a gym battle.

The ref took his position on the field and said, "The battle between the gym leader, Winona, and the challenger, Jason, will now begin. The battle will be a three-on-three with substitutions allowed. The battle will be over once all Pokemon for one trainer are unable to battle. Begin!"

"Pikachu, let's show 'em!" I cried. Pikachu jumped down from my platform and onto the battlefield below.

"Pelipper, go!" Winona cried, tossing her Pokeball.

With Pelipper being a Water and Flying Pokemon, I knew that Pikachu's electricity would be strong against both of those types, which was why I had chosen to use him first.

"Use Water Gun!" Winona commanded.

"Dodge it, Pikachu! Then use Thunderbolt!" I commanded.

Pikachu dodged the Water Gun by successfully running forward and sideways. Then he launched his Thunderbolt.

"Fly higher to dodge it!" Pelipper successfully dodged Pikachu's attack.

"Use Agility, Pikachu!" I needed some extra speed to make it harder for her Pokemon to dodge Pikachu's attacks.

"Use Wing Attack!" Pelipper shot down towards Pikachu with its glowing wings.

"Use Quick Attack, then Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped up with Quick Attack, dodging Pelipper's Wing Attack, then spun and landed the hit with Iron Tail directly on Pelipper's head.

"Now use Thunderbolt!" I commanded quickly, so that Winona's Pokemon wouldn't have time to recover. The attack struck with super-effective damage, but Pelipper wasn't defeated yet!

"Water Gun!" Winona cried, once her Pokemon had recovered.

"Dodge it!"

But Pikachu wasn't able to dodge and took the hit.

"Use Steel Wing!"

"Meet it with Iron Tail!"

Pelipper shot down towards Pikachu, who was running towards it. Pikachu cried out as he jumped and swung his tail, connecting with Pelipper's Steel Wing. Both moves fought for dominance. But now that they were locked in a close quarters stalemate, this was my change to end this for good!

"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" I cried.

"Get out of there!" Winona cried.

But Pelipper couldn't get away fast enough. Thunderbolt hit Pelipper with a direct hit and Winona's Pokemon fainted.

"Pelipper is unable to battle. Pikachu wins!" the ref announced.

"Great job, Pikachu! Go and sit with Megan and the others for now." I called down to him. He ran off to the sidelines and sat next to Megan and her Espeon.

I knew that Pikachu wouldn't be able to climb back up to me, so I would have him sit on the sidelines with the others until I needed him again in the battle.

"Swellow, go!" Winona cried.

"Pidgeot, let's show 'em!" I cried.

I knew that a duel between two Flying Pokemon would be exciting and evenly matched.

"Use Agility, Pidgeot!"

"Swellow, use Aerial Ace!"

Despite Pidgeot's increased speed, Swellow still landed a hit with the Aerial Ace attack.

I had seen how fast Winona's Swellow was in yesterday's battle. Even Jason had issues when battling her Swellow, despite his attempts to make his Swellow faster. Their battle had ended in a tie.

"Air Slash!" I commanded. Pidgeot shot towards Swellow and unleashed the attack.

"Use Quick Attack to dodge, then use Wing Attack!"

... ...

Winona's Swellow was holding its own, despite my best efforts. Both Pokemon were growing tired and I would need to wait for the perfect opportunity to get an opening that would end this battle.

"Use Aerial Ace, Swellow!" Winona shouted.

"Use Gust!" I cried, once Swellow was close enough.

The strong gust of wind caused Swellow to slow down the Aerial Ace. This was my chance!

"Swoop down below and use Air Slash, quickly!" Pidgeot shot down below Swellow and with a cry, launched the attack right into Winona's Pokemon directly from below. Swellow's body faltered in the air and fell towards the ground.

"Swellow is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins!" the ref announced.

"I have to say, that was impressive. I was thinking, if anything, it would've been a tie, since both of our Pokemon were holding their own." Winona commented, returning her Swellow.

"Yeah, I thought so, too. I had to find the perfect opening and that meant finding a way to deal with Aerial Ace, just like how my dad had to figure it out when he battled you. But unlike him, I used the wind to my advantage instead of the ground." I replied.

"Pidgeot, come back." I said, returning my Pokemon. "You did great."

"Altaria, go!" Winona cried, tossing her Pokeball.

"Rhydon, let's show 'em!" I cried.

I saw a slight frown on Winona's face, since her Flying Pokemon would be at a disadvantage with my Rock Pokemon. Rock Pokemon wouldn't be damaged very much by Flying attacks. Still, I'd have to be careful about its Dragon attacks.

"Use Rock Blast, Rhydon!" I cried, wasting no time.

"Dodge it!" Winona cried.

Altaria managed to dodge it. So ranged attacks wouldn't be the best strategy, like I'd thought. It would give Altaria too much space to dodge, being in the air. I would need to strike when Altaria was close, giving Winona less time for her Pokemon to dodge.

"Use Peck!" Altaria dove down towards Rhydon.

"Get ready, Rhydon!" Rhydon waited and I watched as Altaria got closer. "Now use Hammer Arm!"

"Stop!"

But Altaria was too close and the attack slammed Altaria into the ground. But Altaria managed to recover quicker than I thought and flew away.

"Use Stone Edge!" I yelled. The rocks flew towards Altaria, who dodged some of them, but couldn't dodge them all.

"Rock Blast!" I couldn't let up, even if Altaria's attacks wouldn't hurt Rhydon much. I didn't want to give it any openings.

"Dodge it!" Winona cried out. Altaria managed to dodge the attack, but just barely.

"Now use Dragon Breath!" Altaria shot down and landed the hit, being quicker than I had anticipated. Altaria then hurried back into the sky.

"Okay, Rhydon! Let's finish this! Use Stone Edge once more!" The rocks shot towards Altaria.

"Dodge it and use Fury Attack!" Altaria dodged the rocks like I'd thought it would and headed towards Rhydon quickly.

"Hammer Arm!" I shouted. Rhydon's attack slammed into Altaria, who was knocked into the ground, and remained on the ground.

"Altaria is unable to battle. Rhydon wins! The winner of this battle is Adam!" the ref announced.

"Great job, Rhydon!" I said as I returned my Pokemon.

I made my way down from the platform and met Winona in the center of the field.

"I'm impressed by your strategy. I have no doubt that I'll be seeing you and Jason in the Pokemon League. You're both great trainers! Here's your Feather Badge." Winona said as she extended her hand to me.

I took my badge and put it in my case as Pikachu in the others ran over to me. Pikachu jumped onto my shoulder and joyfully rubbed his head against mine. Then Megan wrapped her arms around my chest, hugging me with a big smile on her face.

However, for an instant, I could sense that her emotions in her Aura were different than before. She felt happy that I'd won, like she always did, but her Aura felt warmer and stronger, as if there was some deeper meaning to her hug. She probably wasn't aware of this, since she couldn't sense Aura like I could, but I was curious, and wanted to ask her. But I also didn't want to ruin her moment with me, so I kept quiet.

I then remembered that I'd felt this feeling in someone before. It was in Amber's Aura. It was back in Lavaridge Town when we had spent that time alone together. I could sense back then that Amber was hiding some deeper feelings that she was afraid to reveal to me.

Now, I was sensing that very same thing inside Megan's Aura. Which meant that she was hiding deeper feelings for me, too. I didn't know what to think, having two girls who considered me as something more than just a friend.

Also, I didn't know if I felt the same way about either of them. I had all but closed off my heart to this kind of thing, after my heartbreak from Michelle. I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to feel that way toward anyone ever again.

But at that moment, I decided that it was time to at least try. I had to figure out which girl I felt closer to, and let them know. It would take time, but I knew that I had to figure out my feelings first, before either of them got the courage to tell me their own. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to give them an answer to their question. And that question would be..."Do you love me, Adam?"

Author's Note: Adam wins his sixth badge, bringing him one step closer to reaching the Pokemon League.

But it seems like he's found out that two girls have deeper feelings for him, instead of just one, and he knows that he needs to figure out his own feelings for them first!

Which girl does Adam have deeper feelings for? Amber? Megan? Or maybe...both of them?

See how all of this will turn out as the story and the journey continue in Pokemon NG!