I whistled to signal my Pokémon. Rusty ceased chasing Chimling, who quit teasing Hope by pretending he was going to burn her. Hope, however, bumped into Rusty, who fell over and got landed on by Hope. The Shinx and Buneary looked at each other, before laughing. I smiled as well, touched by their little moment.

"Alright, guys, I think Hope should be first, then Chimling, and finally Rusty." *Wait, I wanna be first,* Rusty said. "Are you sure, Rusty?" *Yeah, I don't want Hope to be knocked out. Hopefully I can win it before she has to fight.*

Hope gave Rusty a hug. *You'll do great, Rusty,* she smiled. Rusty beamed back. *I know I will.* "Alright, you guys, it's time for you two to go back," I told Chimling and Hope.

The Chimchar seemed fine, but my Buneary was less than excited. *Please no...* I nodded and returned Chimling, before putting Hope in my backpack. "There, now you can jump out when you're ready to fight, but I don't think Rusty'll let that happen willingly," I teased. We all shared a laugh, before we walked inside the gym.

Dawn, Barry, and Lucas were waiting in the stands. "Hey, where's Hope," Lucas asked. "Why would Jasmine keep a rare Pokémon who could be worth a pretty penny to others out in the open? I'd be surprised if Hope was sent out in this battle," Dawn said. "Actually, I think Hope is in Jasmine's backpack," Barry said.

Across from me, a woman in a green cloak, with orange and black hair was waiting for me. "Ah, you must be Jasmine," she smiled. "Y-yes, I am," I responded, smiling back. "So, how many Pokémon will you be using today? I see you at least have one with your little Shinx there."

"Yes, this is Rusty, and he's 1 of 3 Pokémon I'll be using," I smiled. "Very well, send out your first Pokémon please." I nodded and looked to Rusty. "Time to shine, Rusty." Rusty gave a yip and leapt into the field.

Gardenia, the gym leader, smiled and took a Poké Ball off of her belt. "Let's go, Cherubi!" Her Poké Ball opened and released a small, pink Pokemon with a smaller pink orb hanging off the leaf on its head. :Alright, Rusty let's win this!: "Okay, Rusty, use Wild Charge!"

My Shinx surrounded himself in electricity, before dashing at the Cherubi. "Cherubi, dodge it!" The Cherubi gracefully jumped over Rusty. :Don't let her get away!: Rusty spun and took off again, leading to a cat-and-mouse game between the two.

Eventually, Rusty landed badly on his previously burnt leg. He shrieked in pain and fell. "Wait, I return Rusty," I shouted. The gym leader and referee nodded, as I picked up Rusty and put him in my backpack. *Don't worry, Rusty, you'll be back at it in no time,* Hope said quietly.

I smiled slightly from Hope's good will, before grabbing Chimling's Poké Ball. "Alright, Chimling, time to shine," I declared, sending out the Chimchar. "Cherubi, Magical Leaf!" The Grass-Type sent out a flurry of rainbow leaves at the Chimchar. "Chimling, Ember!"

The Pokémon huffed, wrapping fire around himself and cartwheeling into the Magical Leaf attack. The leaves burnt and disintegrated as Chimling passed, his Fire Spin slamming into Gardenia's Cherubi. The Cherry Pokémon was sent flying to her owner's feet, before getting back up. I quickly flipped out my Pokédex to refresh myself on Chimling's moves. :Chimling, I said to use Ember, why didn't you?:

*Because, you're not my trainer,* he retorted, before shooting an Ember at Cherubi. The Cherubi flinched, before succumbing to its exhaustion. "Cherubi is unable to battle! Chimling is the winner!" Gardenia returned her Pokemon, before taking out a Great Ball.

"Alright, Turtwig, your turn," Gardenia declared, sending out a green turtle-like Pokemon with a brown shell and a sprout on its head. :Hey, doesn't Lucas have one of those,: Jasper asked. "Chimling, use Ember!" The Chimchar ignored me once again, opting for a Fire Punch. It charged towards Gardenia's Turtwig, who returned it with a Headbutt, sending Chimler back and knocking him out. "Chimling is unable to battle! Turtwig is the winner!"

I returned Chimling, looking at my bag. "Rusty, you ready?" *Yeah, I am.* I smiled, taking my Shinx back out. "Shine once again, Rusty!"

"Turtwig, use Bite!" "Counter with an Ice Fang, Rusty!" Our two Pokémon charged at each other, but Rusty's attack landed first, his icy teeth clamping down on the Pokémon. :Rusty, Facade!: Rusty tossed the Turtwig into the air, before ramming it, as my Shinx was enveloped in an orange light.

Rusty did a flip as he landed back by me, as Gardenia's Turtwig fell to the ground, dazed and defeated. "Turtwig is unable to battle! Rusty is the winner!" Gardenia returned her Pokémon, smiling. "Rusty sure is strong," she complimented.

"Yeah, he is," I smiled, as Rusty nuzzled my leg. "Well, time to release my strongest team member! Go, Roserade!" Out of Gardenia's Dusk Ball came a new Pokémon, one that was green with a white rose petal hood and two flowers on the end of its arms, red and blue respectively. I took out my Pokédex and scanned the creature.

'Roserade: the Bouquet Pokémon, and the evolved form of Roselia. Its hands conceal thorny whips that can jab with near-fatal power. It uses these whips to poison and bind its prey.' :Watch out, Rusty! Roserade is really strong!:

*I'll be fine, Jasmine,* Rusty responded naively, as he turned to Gardenia's Roserade and growled. "Roserade, use Flash!" The Roserade emanated a bright light, filling the stadium. :Rusty, stay on alert!: *I'll be fine, Jasmine, I promise,* Rusty complained.

"Roserade, Poison Jab!" The light faded, as Roserade assaulted Rusty, the buds in its hands retracting to jab Rusty with its poisonous vines. Rusty was sent flying back, landing in front of me, looking defeated. *Jasmine...it hurts...* :Rusty, if you lose, Hope has to fight, and you promised yourself and Hope that she wouldn't have to fight!:

*I believe in you, Rusty. You can do it,* Hope muttered, holding her paws together and closing her eyes. Rusty slowly pushed himself up, grunting and sweating. As he did, a purple aura surrounded Rusty, indicating he was poisoned. But, the purple was overtaken by a furious orange, as Rusty roared at Gardenia's Roserade.

"Rusty's Ability is Guts," Gardenia asked, looking surprised and concerned. "Yep, and now Rusty's even stronger! Go, Rusty, Wild Charge!" My glowing Shinx surrounded himself in electricity, leaping towards the Roserade. "Roserade, Poison Jab," Gardenia commanded, causing the Bouquet Pokemon leapt towards my Flash Pokémon, and they collided in midair.

The two Pokémon fell to the ground, Gardenia's Roserade landed gracefully on her feet, while Rusty fell to the ground, and had lost consciousness. "Rusty is unable to battle! Roserade is the winner!" I nodded and picked up my Shinx. "You did great, Rusty," I smiled, kissing his forehead, before taking off my yellow backpack.

:I'm sorry, Hope, but I have to send you in.: *No, I don't wanna! It's scary, and they might make fun of me, and what if I lose?* :If you lose, that just means we'll have to try again, but if you don't go, we can't win at all, compared to being able to win if you do go. And imagine how happy Rusty will be when you tell him you got to win the match for the team!:

*I...but...* Hope began, before sighing. *Okay...* I nodded and put Rusty in the backpack, before taking Hope out. The blue-cottoned Buneary looked scared to be in the fight, Gardenia and the referee were shocked, as were my friends, and the Roserade was in hysterics, derisively laughing at my Pokémon. "Hope...time to shine," I smiled.

*I have to battle you? You're a freak, you look like an Oran Berry! Skit along, little girl, and let the real Pokémon fight,* Gardenia's Roserade sneered. "Roserade, Mega Punch!" The Roserade smirked and rushed my Buneary.

Hope squeaked in fear and jumped over Roserade, clearing her by at least 2 inches. *Get back here, coward,* Gardenia's Roserade shouted, chasing after Hope. The Buneary and Roserade began to play a game of cat-and-mouse, as Roserade tried and failed to catch Hope. But, after at least 5 minutes of the game, Hope seemed to be cornered, her ears coiling down in fear. *I've got you now, wimp!*

:Hope, do something! Anything,: I begged, before remembering the move she was still trying to learn. "Hope, use Bounce!" Hope nodded and grinned, jumping in a half front flip, before using her ears to push off the ground. The force bounced her right into Gardenia's Roserade, knocking the Grass-type back.

*Jasmine, I did it!* :Hope, it's not over yet!: "Roserade, use Return!" The Roserade jumped towards Hope in one last power attack. "Hope, intercept with an Ice Punch!"

Hope nodded, covering her paw in ice and ear bouncing towards the Roserade. The two Pokémon clashed in midair, both attacks connecting as they passed. The two Pokémon landed, neither of them showing signs of damage. *H-how...I lost...to a freak...* Gardenia's Roserade murmured, before falling over and fainting. "Roserade is unable to battle! Hope is the winner, leaving Jasmine as the victor of this gym battle!"

Hope looked shocked, tears coming into her eyes. She hopped quickly to me, as I took a knee and held my arms out to grab and hug her. *Jasmine, I...I did it, Jasmine!* "You did great, Hope." *Ugh...Jasmine...what happened,* Rusty asked drowsily from my backpack.

Hope climbed into the backpack, grinning. *I won, Rusty! I beat the Roserade!* *Y-you did? That's great,* Rusty cheered, hugging Hope.

My blue Buneary hugged back, as I got up to accept my badge. "My my, Hope sure is special," Gardenia smiled as I walked up. "Y-yeah, she is. Though I'm not sure your Roserade appreciated that." "It wouldn't surprise me, Hope is quite unordinary."

"I just wish other Pokémon would be kind." "Maybe in time, Jasmine," Gardenia smiled, putting her hand on my shoulder. "Here, you've earned this," she told me, handing me a small green badge resembling 3 trees. "Show this, and people will know you've bested me." I nodded and smiled, taking the badge.

"You did it, Jasmine," Barry cheered from the stands. "You and the others did great," Lucas smiled, waving at me. "Ah, I remember them. I'd say you're in quite good hands," Gardenia laughed. "I would say so too," I giggled.

After that, I went back to my friends next to the stands. I returned Chimling's Poké Ball to Barry. "Chimling can be stubborn sometimes, but he did help," I told Barry with a smile. "Well, Jasmine, are you going to do that idea with your Pokémon," Dawn asked. "Not yet; I want to win a battle with Pokémon that are just mine before I do that."

"Well, maybe we should get going to Veilstone, and then," Lucas suggested. "Yeah, that sounds good," I smiled, straightening my hair with my fingers. We waved goodbye to Gardenia and the referee, going back to our room in the Pokémon Center to pack up our things. After that, and a quick lunch, we made our way to Mt. Coronet, to head to Veilstone.

---O---O---O---
Word Count: 1891 Words

My my, that was fast.
I'm surprised myself that I got this out so fast.

But...hey, 1st battling Chapter! That's a thing!

...Happy Reading!