The piece of paper Flakner gave me was a bit hard to read since I'm not normally from here. There are numbers and street names I can't even find, even if I walked around the block for about half an hour.

"Why is this so difficult?" I asked myself. Pichu leaned over my shoulder to see what I'm looking at "I better find the Pokémon gym, but if I find Falkner, he'll be able to show me much faster"

"Pe!" Pichu jumped off my shoulder, fell on her face, and hurried to run off.

"Pichu! What did I tell you about jumping off like that?!" I groaned and followed her towards wherever she was going.

The more she ran, the more the area I was in was starting to look like the map I was following. In no time, we made it to where we needed to go. Where Pichu lead me to was the gym I was going to visit later, but she was smelling the ground under her the entire time, like she was looking for something, or someone.

"So..." I sweat dropped "He works in a gym... Why didn't he just say something?" I groaned and picked up Pichu "Were you looking for his scent?"

"Pe!" She smiled proudly. I pet her head and put her back on my shoulder.

"Don't do that again, okay?" I walked into the gym and was met with a man in a mustache at a desk. He looked up from his computer and smiled.

"Hello there! Champion in the making!" I blushed at the sudden compliment "Are you here to challenge the gym leader?"

"Yes, I am, but I'm wondering if you know if someone name Falkner works here" he started laughing like I told a joke "What?"

"Yes ma'am, he started here not too long ago, but I would had thought the news had already gone through everyone" I was confused "This gym specializes in flying type Pokémon. That Pichu you have there will be able to stand up to them and declare you victorious for being a electric type" if only he knew... If this gym specializes in flying type, how will I manage with a grass type like Chikorita? "If you step in that elevator over there, you'll be taken to the top floor of the gym. The top button is the only area trainers can visit. Any other buttons can't be access unless you have a key card, so just click the last number" I nodded and walked towards the elevator to get to where I need to go. I wonder why he laughed when I mentioned Falkner's name.

I clicked the button I was suppose to press and was taken upward the building that took about half a minute to arrive. When the elevator settled on the 4th floor, I stepped out and saw trainers surrounded by bird cages.

As soon as I stepped out the elevator, I was noticed by the three guys taking care of their Pokémon "Hey" one of the bird guys said "Looks like we have a challenger today"

"My name is Valerie. I'm here to challenge the gym leader on behalf of the elder that wouldn't let me battle him" they looked at each other confused "He said I can come here and challenge the gym leader that may be stronger than he is. I would like the opportunity to challenge your gym" they laughed together.

"Why so formal? Have you never been in a Pokémon gym before?" I shook my head "Wait... You haven't? Pokémon gyms aren't all that formal, you know. We may be strong, but we're normal people. Talk to us like you would anyone in the streets" I sighed.

"If you say so..." another bird boy came up to me.

"How old are you? You said you never been inside a gym and you act like this? You look to be around Falkner's age"

"He is older than me by a year"

"So you know of Falkner"

"Of course I do. He was my body guard long before he started working here. I didn't even know he was a police officer, to be honest. Does he work with you guys?" They looked at each other.

"Yeah, you can say that. He recently started working here after his grandfather had passed down the job to him, but he's not anyone new that we haven't worked with before"

"That's good to know. Well, I don't know anything about gyms or anything, so I don't know where to start"

"Huh? You don't know anything about gyms? You said you were a year younger than Falkner" I gave them a face of 'and?!' They quickly got it "Well..." they started explaining to me what's the purpose of gyms and how they relate to the Pokémon league.

"Badges, huh?" I started thinking "I'm not planning on participating in the league though"

"You don't have to. We battle anyone who decides to challenge us. Did you pay the fee to enter" fee? "Every gym ask for a fee every time you enter to challenge us and the gym"

"Why would you ask if she paid a fee? She got up here, didn't she?" The other bird boy said.

"I didn't pay a fee" I admit. They snapped their heads towards me.

"You didn't?" I shook my head.

"The man downstairs just told me to enter the elevator. That's it" They looked more confused than they already were.

"Relax" Falkner walked from the corner with a Pidgey on his arm "You guys will get paid like you always do. I paid her fee" I pouted and snapped.

"Who said you can pay for me!? I have money!" He waved his hand.

"I was the one that invited you here, didn't I? Why would I make you pay?"

"I didn't even know you were the gym leader!"

"Well, it's not like I expected you to know what a gym leader is" my jaw dropped "I remember asking you one time who do you think is the most powerful gym leader in Kanto. You responded with a 'what's a gym leader' and walked away" I sweat dropped.

"Obviously that was a long time ago! I know they're important people!"

"But you don't know why they're important" I waved my arms.

"S-Shut up!" I tried hitting him, but he held me back by pushing on my head "Let me hit you!" I groaned "I'll teach you to make fun of me!" He sighed.

"You were always sensitive when it comes to someone making fun of you" I pouted more and kept swinging "You're here faster than I expected you to be. Why haven't you rest like I told you?" I backed away and fixed my hair.

"I took my medicine so I can get better faster" his brow twitched.

"Even so, you shouldn't have been able to recover so quickly" he took my shoulder and looked at me in the eye. I gulped and looked away "Did you overdose?"

"N-No!" I blushed "No, I didn't!"

"Did what you take have alcohol?"

"I don't know!"

"Did you drink the whole bottle?" I crossed my arms as much as I could, avoiding the bruise on my arm.

"Only half" he grabbed my wrist and pulled up my bad arm "Ow!"

"What is this?" I pulled away and groaned.

"It's nothing. I had an accident back in route 30 before I got here" he huffed, looking as calm as he could be, which made me feel irritated that he can do that.

"You were hiding that from me?" I turned away "Even after what happened, you still don't want others to worry about you"

"I'm a big girl. I'm not going to complain over a bruise"

"The bruise that covers your arm? Didn't you go see if that wasn't serious?"

"Trust me" that Totodile wasn't as strong to hurt me like that "I'm fine. I may have a sensitive body, but I'm strong enough to take the pain" I held my hips "Now, are we going to just stand here, or are you going to battle me?" I raised my chin. He stared at me before cracking a snort, confusing me and the boys around him.

"It's usually the other way around, but yes, you're right. I am the one that brought you here to challenge me. So I'll be the one battling you. If that's the case, you won't need a badge"

"I don't really mind" he shrugged and walked away.

"Go ahead and battle these guys here and I'll give you the battle I asked for. Shouldn't be too hard" he looked over his shoulder "since you're so tough"

"I'll show you" he walked away. I faced the boys looking at me "Alright. I'm ready"

"You must be someone special to make Falkner laugh like that" one of them said. What does he mean? I've seen him laugh before "Well, how about battling me first?" The bird boy with a HootHoot on his head asked.

"Sure" I send out my Chikorita and kept her on my side.

"All you have is a grass type?" I shook my head and placed Pichu down.

"I also have a normal type on me" he was just as confused as how it looked. Though Pichu is actually a electric type, she can't use electricity. She's pretty much a normal type "Go Pichu" Pichu cheered and jumped to face the HootHoot who flew to the little battle field we made.

"I don't see how a Pichu is a normal type, but whatever. I'll let ladies go first"

"Okay" Throughout the Bellsprout tower challenge, I had a difficult time trying to get through all the Bellsprout the monks threw at me mainly because Chikorita was the same typing. The attacks didn't do much damage, so I had Pichu switch in from time to time to take care of it. It's actually allowed in battles.

"Pichu! Use sweetkiss!" I yelled. Pichu puckered her lips and kissed her hand to blow at HootHoot. The flying type got dizzy after that.

"Whoa" my opponent looked amazed "Nice one! My turn! HootHoot! Use wing attack!" HootHoot was too confused and hurt itself by flying into a cage "H-Hey!"

"Pichu, return!" Pichu came back to my side "Chikorita! Let's go!" Chikorita ran to the battlefield.

"You're switching in the middle of the fight!?"

"I didn't hear anything about that being a problem. I looked it up" I giggled and pointed at HootHoot "Grab HootHoot with vinewhip!" Chikorita obeyed and lifted the night owl into the air "Slam!" Chikorita let out a battle cry and slammed HootHoot into the floor, knocking it out instantly.

"W-What?!" The bird boy gasped "B-But that was so fast!"

"It's all about strategy" I winked.

"You cheated!" I flipped my hair and walked pass him.

"Did I?" I smirked when I stood by his shoulder, looking back at him looking at his Pokémon "Don't be so down. You did great" he looked at me confused "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better battle. Maybe next time" I winked, making him blush.

"S-Sure..." he smiled "G-Good luck" I waved flirtatiously and continued with the rest of the trainers who kept me from the gym leader. They weren't anything too hard, but I had to put on my charm to make sure they don't feel bad after I beat them after using my immediate KO strategy that's helped me win battles in a row. I don't think it'll last very long, but we still have time to train and get more ideas to beat our opponent.

After the last trainer, I approached Falkner feeding his familiar Pidgeot.

"You made it this far so quickly" Falkner smiled at me "Nice one. I didn't know you were such a good trainer"

"Why? Did you think I was bad?"

"Not at all. You did challenge the Bellsprout tower after all. I have no room to judge what kind of trainer you are until I get to have a battle with you. So? Shall we get started?" I giggled.

"You know, I was told that Pokémon gyms shouldn't be looked at as too formal, yet you act so cool and distant"

"Sorry, it's just how I've been. I've trained since I was a young boy in order to beat my grandfather so he can hand down this gym. He ran his gym when he was around my age, and I've worked hard to get where I am. Unfortunately, this gym was closed for a few months because of his passing. I got to battle with him and won before he left" he pet his Pidgeot "And even if I had rights to take over the gym, I had other things to do before I come back" I frowned.

"Don't tell me it was because of me" he didn't say anything "I'm sorry I made you wait this long"

"You don't have to apologize. That girl assigned me that job to protect you and look into that owner, but it's a shame I never got to be the one to capture him" he sighed "not that I'm not glad he's captured or anything, it just happened so suddenly..." he looked down "His capture didn't bother me... It's what I found out what you've been through" I took his hand when I noticed him shaking "That boy who made the capture possible was able to save you much faster than I could. I just wanted to protect you..." I hugged his arm "I remained a cop for a little while to get some dirt from Ronan and taught him a lesson, but it didn't do anything. Once I got to see you, I calmed myself and finally took over the gym" he looked back at me, still shaking "Here I am, acting like a big brotherly figure... and yet I couldn't do anything"

"Falkner" I buried my head on his shoulder "You did enough... You don't have to feel like all you did for me was for nothing! I'm grateful to just have people care about me" he nodded.

"We keep talking about this... but it's still fresh on my mind" he pet my head "I'm still shaking from what happened, but you started smiling as soon as we left that court room. You're so brave" I laughed.

"I have to be! Or else I wouldn't have hope to keep living!" He nodded and smiled.

"Yeah... How about that battle? I like to see how this bravery of yours forms into what happens in the field"

"You're on!" He walked away to make room for the battle. My bag suddenly shook, but very little. I looked at my egg confused, seeing nothing wrong with it.

"Hm" I smiled, patting the shell "Don't worry, you'll soon be able to see the world for yourself" I waved to Falkner on the other side of the battle field "Let's do this!" I got Pichu to stand in front of me to start the battle.

Right beside the field was a large window that showed a pretty view of the city. It's quite pretty and it was pretty distracting when I'm about to battle. This fits to the theme of the gym. I like it for the most part, but what caught my attention was someone standing in front of the gym, wearing a colorful kimono while looking around.

"Ready!?" Falkner asked with his Pidgeot. So he's going with the big bird. Let's see how this plays out. I'm ready for any battle! I will accept all kinds if it means helping me get ready for the battle that isn't over. I need to be prepared, even if I'm still a bit sick, I have to fight through it... No matter what!