Talaia groaned as she came to her senses. "Huh?" she said, rubbing the back of her head. She gasped and looked around. "Manene!" she cried.

"Mime Mime Mime! (I'm right here!)" Manene said. Talaia picked her up and hugged her.

"Oh! I'm so glad you're safe!!" She looked at anthony. "Hello?"

---

He hold out his hand. "Need a hand? Team Galatica took your Mime Jr." He said. "I saved your Mime Jr. And I saw you with Roark back at Oreburgh City. And I happen to be his best friend." He chuckled a bit.

Talaia blushed. "Y-You did?" she said, Manene coping her. "We just started going out...."

---

"It seems to me you wanna be his woman. No deal. I'll be coming to the wedding when the time comes." He laughed. "Oh yeah, I heard a rumor about the forest. Theres said to be a stone covered with part of the rest that turns Eevee into Leafeon and theres one in the Snow area as well that can turn it into Glaceon." He said as he took out a guide book and shows her the pictures. "A Glaceon is so pretty. If I get my hands on one I'll be naming it Glacy." He said as he just chuckled. "Well I say we leave the forest before the goons gets unparalyzed."

Talaia turned even redder. "Y-Yeah... You're right." she stood up. "I have to get to Eterna."

---

"One more thing, your fave is more redder than a tomato." He said as he was walking to the exit of the Forest with Talila while Pachirisu is walking behind him.

"T-Tomatoes can be other colors, you know!!" Talaia said, face still red.

---

"Not really, a Tomato fully grown cannot be a different color." He said. "You should take a deep breath and stop blushing because it is really freaking me out." I can't believe Roark dated her.... She will be a hard one to take care of....

Talaia glared at Anthony. "You can genetically alter them....." she said, under her breath.

---

Pachirisu uses Spark again at the goons just before they were about to move.

"D-D-Darn.... Pachirisuuuu....." The goons said.

"Good call Pachirisu." Anthony said.

10 mins. has passed and they finally entered the city.

As soon as they got in the city, Talaia ran off. "I have to find that girl!!" she said, looking for the truck.

---

What's with her?? Anthony thought as he looks at Pachirisu. "Lets go to the Pokémon Center to get everybody healed up.


30 mins later......

"Alright Pokémon, healed up. Now where's the Gym Leader?" Anthony said. "Oh well might as well take a look while I'm here." He said as he looked at Pachirisu who smiled.

Talaia walked around. "Oh.... Where is that truck?!?"

---

The first thing Rebecca tried to escape? Break the door down.

First, she rammed into it with her arm. Then she tried again. And again. But it was no use.

She tried to calm herself down, and think. She could tell there were no guards that were watching her room, none out in the corridor at least. But several passed by, and she couldn't clearly be seen trying to escape.

Was there something she could use to escape? She looked around. There was a mop in a bucket, several broken things on the shelves...she decided to take a closer look.

There was a broken CD player, several empty boxes, and a few screws. She frowned, disappointed. But then...

She spotted a small knife, the size of a cell phone. She picked the blade up and examined it, holding it above her eyes.

Rebecca hoped this would work...

---

Anthony spotted the Gym and a woman there. "Excuse me, do you know where I can find the Gym Leader?" He asked.

"I'm the Gym Leader, are you my next challenger?" She asked.

"Yes. I am Anthony." Anthony said.

On the sound of the ref's signal, both teams sprung into action. Ivan and Canace tossed their Pokeballs into the ring, Roark and Clint following suite. Ivan chose for Machop to open the fight while Canace zent out Rapidash. Roark released a Geodude while Clint followed with an Anorith.

"Two toughies", Ivan commented. "Canace, you focus on Anorith. Machop will cream that Geodude."

"Okay, then", Canace replied.

"Quit dawdling and start fighting", Clint roared. "Anorith, use Water Gun". Anorith hastily obliged his master's command and let loose a strong jet of water; headed right for Rapidash.

"Rapidash, dodge and charge it", Canace responded. Rapidash leaped from the water stream's path and darted across the ring towards Anorith. Ivan's Machop followed similarly and rushed Roark's Geodude. He was slow but he could still hold a running pace, despite ending up in a fist-lock with the sturdy Rock Pokemon.

Ivan barked commands. "Machop, Low Kick Geodude". Machop tried but failed as the Geodude deftly floated, dodging the swift kick.

Now it was Roark's turn. "Geodude, set up Stealth Rock". Geodude shoved Machop away and obeyed his master's command, spinning furiously, sending jagged, pointy-edged rocks flying every which way, landing on the ground and turning the field into a dangerous walking zone. Canace's Rapidash neighed at the pointy projectiles blocking its path. With nowhere to move, it was the perfect target for another Water Gun.

"Anorith, douse that horse in water", Clint barked again and Anorith spurted forth another stream of water.

Rapidash neighed again but was helpless to move about. "Rapidash...!" Canace breathed, until she noticed Machop's gray, muscular figure jumping in front to deflect the powerful jet of water. It was injured but had plenty of fighting spirit left, in spite of the pointy rocks digging at its feet.

And Canace wasn't out of fight, either. She knew her Pokemon types and knew enough that one strong Fire attack would toast that Anorith. She just needed some room to move around. That and there was a powerful Geodude ready to take a hit for Anorith. She thought fast.

"We have to get rid of these rocks", Ivan spoke. He, too, thought fast.

But Roark thought faster. "Geodude, tackle that Machop", he commanded. The Geodude flung itself at the Fighting Pokemon.

Then Ivan made his move. "Machop, stand your ground. Catch that Geodude." Machop obeyed, unsure of its new master's intentions, but remained obedient enough to see what he had in store. Geodude brought itself down into the waiting arms of Machop, wrestling for control but not gaining an inch of ground.

Ivan made his next move. "Now, spin that Geodude around as fast as possible." Machop was hesitant but obeyed anyway. It locked its strong arms around Geodude and soon was spinning faster than a cyclone. Canace looked in disbelief but then noticed that the force of the wind was dislodging the stones surrounding Rapidash. When there was enough room, the Machop let go of Geodude and hurled it across the ring.

Right into Clint's Anorith. Both Pokemon were dazed long enough for Canace to make her move. "Rapidash, Fire Spin those two pesky Pokemon", she commanded with fire in her eyes. Rapidash understood and unleashed a powerful, firey vortex from her mouth towards the two dazed Rock Pokemon. There was little they could do against the mighty cyclone and soon, both were exhausted and slumped to the ground.

"Geodude and Anorith are unable to battle. Ivan and Canace win Round 1 of the Oreburgh Gym Battle", the referee announced. Ivan let off an exclamation and high-fived Canace for their teamwork.

Roark remained unshaken. "So, you think you know teamwork? Let's show 'em, Clint". With that, both Leader and Trainer tossed out their second Pokemon. Clint's Pokeball unleashed an Onix while Roark followed with Rampardos.

((Going to continue this later tonight. And, I apologize for the delay. I've been distracted occupied by other things. I won't let this fall through.))

((EDIT: I lied. Sorry, but I need more time to plot out this fight. I'll try not to hold up this group.))

---

Talaia looked around for the next hour with no luck. She collapsed and started to cry. "I'm so useless," she said.

---

Canace's face was pale and her cheeks flushed with excitement; she high-fived Ivan with more relish than she thought she'd ever felt. When Clint and Roark released their respective Pokémon for the second round, she pulled another Pokéball from her pocket after recalling Rapidash and tossed it into the air, releasing her Chimchar. The pint-sized Pokémon was small, she knew, but its fire attacks were a force to be reckoned with.
"Another Fire type, I see," Roark observed with a good-natured smirk. "Are those the only types you have? They suit you."
Canace turned red.
"I... plan to expand!" Half-heartedly, she added, "Eventually!"
She sighed at herself, waiting for Ivan to release his next Pokémon.

---

Ivan called back Machop and reached for his next Pokeball containing Ralts. "Ralts, come on out!" The ball flashed brilliantly and Ralts stood on the field, staring down the two gigantic Rock Pokemon.

Clint moved first. "Plug your ears", he instructed Roark. His Onix let out an ear-piercing screech, causing Chimchar and Ralts to drop their defense. "Onix! Hit Ralts with Rock Tomb", Clint commanded. Onix slamed the ground and several huge rocks went flying towards Ralts.

"Ralts, protect yourself", Ivan commanded. Ralts focused its mental energy and concetrated on stopping the flying rocks. It worked and Ralts successfully avoided damage - until Rampardos came crashing in with a ferocious Head Smash. The force was too strong for Ralts' body to handle and went crashing to the ground; one-hit KO'd.

Ivan grimaced. "Ralts, return. Machop, go!" Ivan released Machop, his last Pokemon for the round. He hoped Canace's Chimchar was nimble enough to dodge the mighty Rock types.

---

Canace let out a gasp of pity when Ralts was so easily defeated.

"No worries, Ivan," she smiled at her partner, weakly. "We can still beat them!"

"That's a lot of confidence, for a beginner!" Roark laughed. "Or is it the other way around?"

Canace ignored him and turned to Chimchar, her eyes aglow behind her goggles.

"Chimchar! Use Fury Swipes on Onix!" she ordered. Chimchar let out a nod and charged forward, its tiny paws swinging sharply, but Onix's rock-hard body seemed unaffected by it. The enormous rock snake was completely unfazed.

"Ah," Canace let out weakly. "Right. Onix's slate-like exoskeleton is ridiculously difficult to penetrate."

"A fact you'd be wise to remember," Clint snorted. "Onix! Separate them! They can't team up if they can't access each other."

The Onix let out a roar, raising its tail. Chimchar let out a terrified squeak as the enormous rocky tail towered over it, leaping out of the way just as it came crashing to the floor, closing Machop off from Chimchar.

"Chim, chim!" it exclaimed, in nothing short of horror.

"Don't sweat it, Chimchar!" Canace croaked, her voice lacking even the slightest hint of confidence in her statement.

---

((Anybody mind being the Gym Leader of Eterna? I'm like getting interrupted everytime. But I will do this though.))

The Gym Leader told Anthony that if he was to battle her he would have to find her in her Gym for it was a maze but Anthony found his way through the maze.

Ivan was rattled by Clint's tactic, but not shaken. Onix merely separated them from each other. Instead of teaming up, Machop would just have to take Rampardos by itself; unless Onix stepped in. Still, if they wanted, Rampardos and Onix would have tag-teamed Machop anyway. This was simply standard procedure.

This was Machop's time to stand under the limelight.

"I can handle this", Ivan reassured Canace with enough confidence to bluff his way through.

"Okay", Roark announced. "Let's see if your mettle is as rock-solid as your technique. Rampardos, charge Machop and don't give up an inch of ground". Rampardos reared its head, roared, then took a lumbering run towards Machop. It was certainly big and powerful, but that didn't mean it was better.

"Machop! You can't take Rampardos head on. Keep dodging it", Ivan cried. Machop sharply dodged Rampardos' incoming charge.

Rampardos turned and headed straight for Machop again. That's a pretty tough Pokemon, Ivan thought. This fight could go on for a long time; long before that Rampardos runs out of energy. I don't think Machop can last--.

But this wasn't a time to meditate. It was a time to act. Ivan stepped forward. "Machop, stand in front of Rampardos." Machop took its position. It shivered as it stared down the stampeding dinosaur but it trusted its master. Just as Rampardos was about to hit, Ivan made his move. "Machop! Dodge and Low Kick", Ivan commanded.

"Machop! Ma!" Machop stepped aside as Rampardos charged right past; over Machop's extended foot and into the dirt floor below.

Roark flinched. He had put too much speed into Rampardos' charge, meaning it was very clumsy at dodging. Combined with its huge body mass, Rampardos was a walking trip waiting to happen. Humbly, he recalled Rampardos. "Rampardos, you did well. Return!" Soon, Rampardos was back in its ball.

The only thing left was to take care of the giant rock snake staring down Chimchar and Machop.

---

Canace's face split into a wide grin. "Yes!" She was not, however, distracted from the task she still had to complete. Chimchar glanced up at her in worry, awaiting her command.

"Onix!" Clint barked. "Use Stealth Rock! Now!"

Onix let out an affirmative roar and began chucking rocks at its opponent, where they stopped and levitated around it. Chimchar let out a panicked yelp as it realized it was trapped, and Canace had to struggle not to do the same.

"All right, now finish it off with Dig!" Clint ordered.

Onix reared its rocky head before diving into the ground, where dirt and rocks flew up in a cascade as it burrowed underground. The floor of the stadium rumbled as Onix made its way toward the trapped Chimchar from below, and Canace knew what would happen once it reached her Pokémon.

There was nothing she could do. Even though her brain was flitting in a great deal of different, desperate directions, she knew there was no way Chimchar could escape Onix's Stealth Rock trap.

Looks like I lose, she thought miserably. Again.

She closed her eyes and cringed, waiting for the final blow that would send her out of the gym with shame.

---

((off-topic: I drew Canace yesterday in Corel, and would be glad to draw anybody else's character. no worries; it would be a lot less scribbly. XD I have too much time on my hands today.))

---

((Helpful drawing is helpful, and nice. I'd draw a pic of my character too but my graphics skills are crap.))

Ivan saw the desperate situation and noticed Canace's glum expression. He wondered if Machop was truly capable of taking Onix by itself. Then again, it would be selfish to take all the credit of defeating the Gym Leader by himself, especially in a double battle. Besides, Canace only had her Rapidash left and, while fast, would hardly be a match for Onix.

"Machop! Go after Chimchar! Stop Onix's attack!" Ivan shouted.

"Chop!" Machop yelled as it bravely charged through the barrier of pointy stones, grabbing Chimchar's head, ducking it, and standing up boldly, arms stretched out, ready to stall the Onix's oncoming assault.

Onix connected, pushing against Machop with the full force of its 463 lb. body. Machop seemed to be doing well. "Chop! Ma-Chop!" it shouted at Chimchar, motioning for it to get out of the way. Chimchar got the message and scurried to safety.

Clint chuckled at the sight. He had to admit; that Machop did have guts but it was far too weak to hold back Onix completely. "Onix, it's time to finish Machop. Now!" With a mighty roar, Onix ripped up the surface of the ground it had burrowed under sending chunks of dirt and granite flying in all directions. Trainees scrambled to get out of the way. Chimchar's lithe little body dodged all of the flying debris but Machop didn't have a prayer against the oncoming force. With strength left, it went skidding easily across the arena floor.

Ivan's last Pokemon lay unconscious. Deep down, it burned him having to lose both Pokemon in a match but he suppressed it as much as possible. "Machop, return", he limply commanded. He looked at Canace. "It's all about you now", he stated.

---

((I'll be Gardenia!!))

---

((Okay Yuzi she is all yours xD Did somebody say drawing characters????))

"Ha! You found me!" Gardenia said, pulling out a pokeball. "I hope you're prepared!"

---

He gets out one of his Pokeballs. "I'm always prepared. Ladies first." He said.

((*looks up gardenia's pokemon*))

"Alright! Go, Cherubi!" Gardenia said. The cute cherubi came out.

---

"Lets do this, Dratini!" ANthony said as Dratini came out of it's Pokeball. "This si gonna be yoru first Gym Leader Pokemon Battle, Dratini so make me proud."

"Dra!" Dratini said.

"Use, Ice Beam!" Anthony said.

"Dratiniiiiiii!" Dratini screamed as it let out an ice beam at Cherubi.

((I believe that was me who spouted off the offer for horrible character drawings.))

Canace bowed her head and shouldered her hair to cover her face, attempting to conceal the fact that the grateful tears in her eyes were fogging up her goggles. She took a moment to regain her composure before turning her head sharply and nodding at him, mouthing a quiet, "thanks."

"Chimchar!" she belted out, with a certain new degree of grit in her voice. "It's all you, now! I know you can do it!"

Chimchar glanced pitifully back at her, obviously saddened by the loss of its partner.

"Chim, chim," it squeaked.

Canace frowned at it. "I know," she answered. "But... you can beat Onix, Chimchar! Don't give up now!"

"Big words!" Clint laughed heartily. "Let's see you carry their weight. Onix!" He posed dramatically in a classically anime way. "Finish it now!"

Canace gasped sharply and quivered.

"Chimchar, use--" she paused, blinking. "Chimchar?"

The tiny Pokémon had begun to glow a brilliant white, as though a candle had been lit inside of it. Canace stepped back slightly.

"Ivan! What's happening to it?" she asked, feeling foolish.

---

((umm...... >.> What moves can a cherubi have?))

---

((I got no idea try checking it on serebii.net O.o I do have a Cherbui on my DS its just that I forgot where I put it O.o))

((I don't know why you're using it if you don't know its moves, but they include tackle, growth, leech seed, toxic, take down, solar beam, swords dance, and giga drain. More are here.))

---

((Meh I know my Pokemon Moves by heart. O.o))

((Okay, thanks. I'm using it because Gardenia has one and I'm RPing as her at the moment.))
The attack hit Cherubi but gardenia was not worried. "Cherubi! Use Giga drain!"

---

"Dratini, dodge the attack." He said as Dratini dodged the move. "Now use Ice beam one more time to finish Cherbui." He said.

Dratini used Ice Beam once more at Cherbui.

"Cherubi! Dodge that and try Giga drain again!" The cherubi dodge and pulled a successful giga drain, which restored some health.

---

"Dratini, Use Ice Beam on the floor." He said.

Dratini covered the whole arena with Ice making it very slippery.

"Let's see if Cherbui can withstand the Ice." Anthony said.