A/N: there's a gym battle in this chapter, so the music is best played when the final Pokemon of the gym leader has entered the battlefield.

Touko's POV

"Where have you been?!" was the first thing I heard when I walked back into Elesa's gym.

"I had to let off some steam," I say nonchalantly as I walk past my manager.

"We are so behind schedule!" her irritating voice chirped.

"We have three hours until show time."

Her appalled look was comical; it was as if I had just told her that Eevees aren't cute. "Do you know how much we have to prepare?! We need to get you prepped, ready your pokemon, ready the stage, check the lightning, check the sound quality, check-"

"Look, I will be ready in less than an hour, and don't worry, my pokemon are always ready for a battle," I smirked, "as for the other stuff, I don't really need to be present for that, do I?" I looked at her right in the eye, "oh yeah, I'm also going to be busy for the next hour or so."

I gauged her reaction. Her face was pale and frozen like stone, "you mean to tell me you will not be attending the preparations even though we are behind schedule," she hissed the last part.

"Yep," I answered, popping the 'p'.

Her face turned red, and her glasses fogged up, Just as she was about to shout at me, I held up my hand, "but better me missing one or two hours of prep than me missing the whole event."

She gasped, "You wouldn't dare."

"Well, I've gotta disagree with you there. You see, I frankly don't care anymore," of course, now I did for a fairly new reason, but I wasn't going to let her know that. After an intense showdown, she looked down.

"Fine then, you can-"

"Alright, see ya later!" I shouted, running away before she could change her mind.

********

I laughed quietly. Rosa was looking a bit pale and disorientated from the intense lights off the catwalk. She took a minute to get her bearings, then walked into the battlefield. Even from afar, you could notice the shine in her eyes.

"Welcome challenger!" Elesa called out as a million dazzling lights focused on her, "I have been waiting for you."

As Rosa took her place, a referee walked up to the edge of the battlefield, well, catwalk. "This gym battle will now begin! It is the changeller, Rosa, against the Nimbasa City gym leader Elesa. Each one of you will be allowed the use of three pokemon. Once all three pokemon on one side have fainted, the battle will be over. Substitutions are allowed on both ends. Now, both of you draw out your first Pokémon."

"Shine, Emolga!" Elesa called out. The small Pokémon took the air with an electrifying smile. I shuddered as I remembered my battle against it. More like a devilish smile.

"Alright, Stoudland, I choose you!" Rosa launched her pokeball in the air. Stoudland entered the battlefield looking very intimidating, as it let out a defending roar. Rosa and Stoudland both showed determination in their intense eyes.

I couldn't help myself any longer. "Good luck to the both of you!" I called out from the stands. Elesa smiled at me, while Rosa looked shocked at me being here. I gave her a big thumbs up, and after recovering, she flashed me a big grin.

"Well then," Elesa said, turning back towards Rosa, "we're going to see whose star shines brightest!"

"Alright, let the battle begin!" The referee shouted.

"You may have the first move," Elesa said with a smile.

"Stoudland, use crunch!" Rosa called out, and in an instant the significantly big Pokemon had launched itself towards the small Pokemon, baring its fangs menacingly.

"Emolga, dodge, then use aerial ace!" Elesa commanded, not even looking concerned. The small pokemon gracefully did a small dance in the air as it skilfully dodged the attack. It then launched at incredible speed towards Stoudland; it was far too fast for Rosa to even call out to dodge.

Stoudland took significant damage as it crashed into the ground, but it soon regained its composure. "Keep attacking with crunch!"

Elesa smirked. "Keep dodging gracefully!" Emolga launched into an aerial dance which had me captivated; it dodged and dodged, looking as if it were part of the sky, letting the not present wind carry it.

On the other side of the battlefield, Rosa was both awed and frustrated.

What was she going to do now?

Rosa's POV

I watched in horror as Stoudland became more and more tired. I had tried to change my tactics and launch shadow balls for some long distance damage, but Emolga just dodged them even more easily.

"Surely Emolga must also be getting tired," I murmured to myself.

The tables seemed to turn, though, when Emolga went to dodge another shadow ball. It's dance seemed to falter, if only a little bit. Elesa noticed as well, as she began to wear a thoughtful expression.

Now's my chance! "Stoudland, shadow ball!" Stoutdland did so, and as Emolga went to dodge, I called out for Stoudland to use crunch. Emolga was not able to dodge it this time, and it was clear that it had suffered significantly as it fell to the ground.

I smirked. I was about to call out for another crunch when Elesa smiled. "Emolga, voltswitch!"

The small Pokemon gave a mischievous smile as electricity surrounded it, and it shot at the speed of lightning to hit Stoudland. As Stoudland tried to regain  its composure, Emolga returned to its pokeball in a flash of light.

Straight after, another Emolga entered the battlefield. "Aerial ace repeatedly!" Elesa called out. This Emolga was even faster than the previous one, as it launched consecutive attacks on Stoudland, who couldn't find an opening to dodge or attack back.

"Come on, I now you can do it!" I called out in despair, hating to see my dear friend in such a vulnerable state.

Stoudland was finally able to land a crunch, but Elesa looked unfazed as she called out for another voltswitch!

Again, the previous Emolga entered the battlefield, and immediately launched into aerial aces.

Elesa' strategy was clear to me now. She used the first Emolga to tire Stoudland out, the second one to weaken it, and now she was going for the K.O. as Stoudland was so very vulnerable. But it wasn't too late!

I took out two pokeballs, and returned Stoudland into one of them. "Don't worry, you'll get your chance to fight back." I whispered to it with a smile. I then launched the second pokeball into the air.

"It's your turn, Cofagrigus!"

Cofagrigus emerged into the battlefield in a flash of light, but it all seemed to darken as it got into a battle stance. Oh, but Cofagrigus was not here to just pick up a K.O., that was certain.

Elesa looked over at Emolga, who seemed to be tired. I knew what was coming, and I was ready.

"Emolga, voltswitch!"

As Emolga, enveloped in electricity, launched itself at Cofagrigus, I smiled.

Just as it was about to hit, I called out, "Cofagrigus, use disable!"

Emolga was stopped in its tracks, not being able to switch out without inflicting damage. I knew now that Elesa would not switch out anymore.

"Alright then, Emolga, use pursuit!"

I winced as the super effective move dealt damage to Cofagrigous.

"Quick, Cofagrigous, use will-o-wisp!"

Ghostly flames surrounded Emolga, as it was burned.

"Now, use ominous wind repeatedly!"

Emolga was not able to dodge, but kept trying to attack. The burn and Cofagrigous' attacks were wearing it down, until eventually it just fell to the ground.

It had fainted.

"Emolga is unable to battle, so the winner is Cofagrigous!" The referee called out.

"Yes Cofagrigous! Well done!" I cheered, as Cofagrigous turned around to smile at me, but something about its expression was off.

However, I had no time to ponder about that as Elesa sent in her other Emolga.

"Cofagrigous, use ominous wind!" Cofagrigous did so, but it seemed to kind of fall lightly in the air as it carried out the move.

"Emolga, pursuit!"

Both attacks seemed to hit their targets, but as the ominous wind cleared, Emolga could be seen somewhat hurt but still in the air, while Cofagrigous was lying on the ground.

After a second of silence, the referee spoke up, "Cofagrigous is no longer able to battle, so Emolga wins."

Stunned, I returned Cofagrigous to its pokeball. Now I knew what his expression and slow movements had meant. "I didn't know that those aerial aces had affected you so much," I whispered to its pokeball, "it seems you still try to hide your true emotions from everyone, including me. I'm so sorry." I smiled sadly, then took out another pokeball.

"Come on out, Stoudland!"

Stoudland entered the battlefield still looking exhausted, but determined.

"Emolga, use aerial ace!" I saw that coming. "Stoudland, dodge with dig!"

Stoudland hid itself in the ground. Elesa smiled. "Emolga, find it and then aerial ace!"

Emolga flew down to the ground, looking as if it were listening to it. Eventually, its face lit up.

"No! Use crunch, quick!" I shouted, but Emolga dodged the attack as Stoudland emerged from the ground. It then used an aerial ace on Stoudland's back, making Stoudland crash into the ground.

Great, now we can't even use dig, nor crunch, nor any other attacks.

But wait, who said we had to use them to attack?

Taking a deep breath, I called out to Stoudland, "use dig once more!"

Everyone was surprised, everyone but Touko, who looked at me curiously.

Stoudland looked at me, then nodded in trust, digging itself into the ground.

"Alright, Emolga, go!" Emolga once again got ready to sense Stoudland, but we were ready.

"Shadow ball!" I called out.

"Emolga dodge it!"

But there was no need for that, as the shadow ball surfaced way behind Emolga, certainly no where near to cause it damage. But for a second, just for one second, Emolga turned around to look at the shadow ball. And all we needed was a second.

"Now, Stoudland, crunch!"

Time seemed to slow down, as Stoudland emerged out of the ground and threw itself towards Emolga, who was turning around with wide eyes. But Stoudland was unstoppable as it landed its attack and viciously pushed Emolga into the ground, with a loud crash which sent up dust into the air.

I coughed and strained my eyes, trying to see what had happened.

As the dust slowly cleared, I saw Stoudland, who was barely keeping itself standing. A few seconds after, the small Emolga could be seen lying on the ground.

"Emolga is unable to battle, so Stoudland wins!" The referee called out, and it was that which made me break out of my frozenness and smile.

"Stoudland! Yes! Well done! That's my boy!" I shouted in happiness. Stoudland turned to look at me with an exhausted smile.

With a sigh and tired smile, Elesa returned Emolga to its pokeball, and whispered something to it.

"Stoudland, you ought to return to your pokeball now and rest." I said, but Stoudland shaked its head stubbornly. I sighed, but decided to trust Stoudland.

Elesa took a deep breath, then launched her final pokeball into the air.
A Zebstrika entered the battlefield, its legs already moving against the ground in preparation.

Stoudland was really exhausted, so I decided that long distance attacking would be best for now. "Stoudland, use shadow ball!"

"Dodge, then flame charge!" Elesa called out.

Oh no! Zebstika was fast! Faster than the previous Emolgas, and that was something! Stoudland was able to do nothing but try to take the hit.

But just as Stoudland was trying to regain its composure, Zebstrika launched into another undodgable flame charge, and that was it. Stoudland fell to the ground and did not get back up.

"Stoudland is unable to battle, so Zebsrika is the winner!" The referee called out.

I took out Stoudland's pokeball, and returned him to it.

"You did great, and I'm so very proud. Thank you," I whispered to it with a smile. I then took out my final pokeball.

"Alright, let's end this together," I whispered to the pokeball, which I then proceeded to throw into the air.

"Servine, let's go!"

The Pokemon who had been there with me from the beginning of my journey entered the battlefield. She turned towards me and nodded in understanding, which made me smile.

"Alright, leaf storm!"

"Dodge and flame charge!"

The speedy Zebstrika dodged the attack and launched its own attack, hitting right on the mark and inflicting so much damage to Servine.

"Quick, catch it with vine whip!"

Now that Zebstrika was close, Servine was able to hold it and crash it repeatedly into the ground.

"Spark!"

The electric current travelled up Servine's vine whips to inflict very little damage, but it did mean Servine had to let go of Zebstrika.

But we had an even bigger problem.

Servine was grimacing and standing very still, while little sparks of electricity flew around it. Servine was paralysed.

"Now, use flame charge!" Elesa called out.

"Quick, Servine, dodge!"

Servine tried its hardest to dodge, but the paralysis was having her stand still. The flame charge therefore collided, and left Servine lying on the ground.

"Ser-Servine?" I asked timidly.

Servine held up one of its vines to signify that it was still able to battle. But in that state, what could be done?

We were going to loose. One more flame charge, and-

No. I took a deep breath.

"Servine," I called, my voice calmer and more sympathetic, which made Servine look at me, the pain reflecting in her eyes, which broke my heart, "it's alright. I believe in you." I smiled at her, feeling my eyes become teary. Servine smiled back, trust and determination now in her eyes.

As she stood up, a warm, bright light surrounded her. My eyes shot wide open as my little Servine grew in front of me.

Even though it felt like an eternity, Servine's light disappeared within seconds. But in front of me now stood a regal looking Serperior.

Servine had evolved.

I smiled as I looked at Serperior. She nodded at me, then turned to face the opponent.

"Zebstrika, quick, use flame charge!"

"Vine whip!"

History seemed to repeat itself as the flame charge hit Serperior, who grabbed Zebstrika in her vine whips. But Serperior was so much more powerful now, as she swung and crashed Zebstrika into the ground.

Yet Serperior was still suffering from the paralysis, and so had to eventually let go of Zebstrika.

I gritted my teeth. There seemed to be only one way to pick up a K.O., but it was risky.

Serperior's cry made me look at her; she was nodding again. She knew what I was thinking, and trusted me.

"Ok then. Serperior, use sunny day!"

Everyone seemed to gasp, but Elesa recovered quickly and smiled.

"Then, Zebstrika, use your even more powerful flame charge as a token of gratitude!"

Zebstrika launched itself towards Serperior. If this attack hit, it was over.

I made a camera shape with my fingers, pointed towards Zebstrika.

"Perfect angle! Now, Serperior, finish this off with solar beam!"

More gasps filled the air, as Serperior launched an incredible blast of light, which threw Zebstrika backwards, crashing into the wall behind Elesa.

And Zebstrika had fainted.

"Zebstrika is unable to battle, so Serperior win, and the winner is the challenger!"

"Serperior!" I launched myself at Serperior and hugged her. Tears were in my eyes and hers.

I had- no, we had won the gym battle, and had obtained a new badge together.

Author's Note

First of all, this was the longest chapter in the book, so thank you if you have made it this far. I really had fun writing a full battle chapter!

Secondly, we have hit two thousand views! Thank you all so much for this wonderful gift!

And thirdly, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Granted, it's still 2016 where I live, but oh well! 2016 has been an amazing year for me, and while it's sad to see it coming to an end, I'm hopeful that 2017 will be an amazing year for everyone!

So thank you all so much for having read this book this past year, and let's march into 2017 with smiles on our faces.

Thanks for reading!

Katherine
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