In which Juliana gets a helping hand.
Juliana finally made it to the Montenevera Gym, only to find someone waiting for her. For once, it wasn't Nemona.
It was Jacq.
"Mr. Jacq?" she asked, leaning back in surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you were taking care of students' Pokémon at the school."
"I was," he promised. "However, your Fomantis was insistent on seeing you again. I believe she wants to help."
He released Fomantis to prove his point. She made a happy noise at seeing Juliana again. Juliana made the same noise.
"Hey, girl," she cooed, getting down to pet the insect-looking Pokémon. "Are you bugging Mr. Jacq?"
"Not necessarily," he said. "I simply think that she wants to battle more."
"Oh." Juliana stopped petting her Pokémon, frowning. "I'm sorry, Fomantis. You're not up at the strongest level yet."
"And you do only train her and the others when you don't have a specific Gym in mind," Jacq continued. "However, a Lurantis would come with great potential."
"I guess she could learn some non-Grass moves," Juliana agreed. "I do want to train her. I want to train all of my Pokémon. But..."
Jacq handed something small and round to Fomantis. Fomantis immediately hugged it. "That's why I'm giving you the Lucky Egg."
"So how did you know I'd be here?"
"I was challenged to a battle by Miss Nemona." Jacq laughed out loud. "Apparently she was waiting for you."
"She did number the Gyms on my phone," Juliana said with her own laugh. She looked down at Fomantis. "You take that egg. I'll beat this Gym Leader and then make you a member of my team, ok?"
Fomantis enthusiastically agreed.
Jacq and Fomantis watched as Juliana took her Gym test.
The girl had never been to a rap concert before - she preferred pop music and show tunes. The lights were shining, the music was blaring, and the more she fought in those Double Battles, the more people came to see.
It was actually helping her condition.
She was excited, focusing only on the battle and the beats so powerful she could feel them in her bones. Her two leads, Farigiraf and Talonflame, were the only Pokémon she needed until she faced the announcer, a man who called himself MC Sledge. His Sableye knew Power Gem, and Talonflame was taken out in one hit.
Deino's Dragon Pulse was more than enough to help win the round.
A trip to the Pokémon Center later, and Juliana was back at the Gym building, watching the concert from the window.
"That was fun," she told Webby, who had come out of her ball to watch. "I should start listening to her music."
She returned to the battlefield that Ryme was giving her concert from, waiting to ask if she was ready for battle, when she saw that the Gym Leader was watching a young man run away.
"It's like he's never even heard of bars," she said, and then Juliana stepped up. Ryme's whole face lit up. "Well, if it isn't my latest opening act. Here for a Pokémon battle or a rap battle?"
As tempted as Juliana was to answer with "rap battle," she knew that she'd never sat through a whole rap song until today. "A Pokémon battle," she answered after a few moments of deliberation. "I don't know how to rap."
"Don't worry about that," Ryme said, lowering the hand that held the microphone. "It's the middle of the show. My vocal cords can use a break."
"Then let's get ready!" Juliana stepped into her challenger's position, striking a pose and getting a laugh from the audience. "I passed my Gym test, and now I challenge you!"
Ryme joined in on the laughter. "Well done," she said, and put away the mic to select two Pokeballs. "Let's see if your lucky streak continues!"
Juliana tossed two Pokeballs of her own. "Go! Farigiraf and Talonflame!"
Ryme was down two Pokémon. Her Houndstone had endured Talonflame's Acrobatics attack, which was more than could be said for Banette, but her Mimikyu hadn't been so lucky against Farigiraf's Twin Beam.
Now, she held her last Pokeball. "You're doing good, baby," she reassured her challenger, who smiled brightly in response. "Let's see how you do with this!"
The Toxtricity took the stage. Juliana had a moment of worry, but once Ryme Terastallized it and sent Houndstone into the void with Phantom Force, it became easy.
She'd Terastallize Webby, if needed. "Farigiraf! Twin Beam on Toxtricity! Talonflame, Acrobatics on Toxtricity!"
Toxtricity didn't even get a move in. Three strikes, it was out.
Houndstone returned, striking Talonflame in the back. The bird hit the ground with a dull thump, but pushed herself up with her wings. Juliana called for Aerial Ace, and the match was hers.
"Who would have thought that a Psychic-type would be the hardest one to hit," Ryme said as she handed Juliana her new badge.
"I brought more than that," Juliana told her. "I brought a Zangoose too...basically, I figured I'd play to a Normal-type's immunity to Ghost-type moves. Farigiraf was just the strongest."
"Interesting strategy. Most challengers try to type advantage their way through battle." The Gym Leader laughed. "I'd love to battle a full team of Normal-types."
"Let me know when. I've been training!"
The two shook hands, and then Juliana was escorted off the stage by Sledge, letting Ryme get back to her performance.
The challenger did have Rotom take a souvenir photo, however.
"Miss Juliana!"
Juliana hadn't expected to see Hassel in yet another Gym. "Hi," she said, putting her new badge in its case. "Are you friends with this Gym Leader, too?"
"Actually, I'm here to check on your progress for the Chairwoman. I saw your battle with Ryme, and I must say..." A tear slid down his cheek, followed by more. "Full marks! Gold star! I'm so proud of you!"
"Um...thanks." Juliana stepped back from the scene in front of her, slightly alarmed.
Hassel noticed. "Sorry," he said around a sniffle. "I just...I'm so proud of my students for making it this far. Most people don't make it past Kofu."
"I've heard," Juliana admitted. "But I did promise Nemona a battle without holding back. I have to become a Champion."
"So you're prepared to face Rika and me in the stadium, then?"
"I only have six badges."
"So close," Hassel said to himself, then he actually smiled. "I'll see you again soon, Miss Juliana."
"I'll see you at school," she agreed.
"See you at school. And do try to study for your midterms, won't you?"
He turned to leave. Juliana took a second to process.
"Midterms are coming up?"