Here I was in Cianwood City. Actually, I had been here quite a while, training on Route 41 and 42. It was extremely vigorous, and especially hard since most of the routes was water, minus the Whirl Islands, which were inaccessible due to whirlpools. Every Pokemon on my team had grown a lot since Morty back in Ecruteak City. Ava had evolved yet again, and was now a Jumpluff, and a very strong one at that. Baku was now a Hypno, and he was beginning to creep me out. Just last night, I awoke to him watching me sleep. I'm not sure how he got out, but I was unable to sleep for the rest of the night. But, I am most excited about Cerise, who recently evolved in to a Noctowl, and learning a great new move, Confusion, which would help greatly with the on coming battle with Chuck.

Chuck was the gym leader of Cianwood City. As I entered the gym, I saw him getting pounded on by a waterfall. I attempted to challenge him, but he couldn't hear me over the sound of water falling atop his head. So, I had to turn off the water. I did, and as soon as the water stopped falling, Chuck was behind me, breathing heavily. "You dare interrupt my waterfall training?" He asked. I turned around, completely freaked out. "Uhm... Yes, yes I did." I answered. "What's your name, trainer?" He looked me over, expecting me to be another weak challenger. "I'm Star," I said proudly. As soon as my name left my mouth, Chuck's facial expression turned from bored to excited, and a little scared. "So, this is the one everyone's been talking about. Star..." He rubbed his chin. "Star, I understand you've made quite a name for yourself."

"Yeah, I guess I have."

Chuck sighed. "Let me get my Pokeballs. I'll see how strong you really are." With that, Chuck left. I walked over to the arena and sat down in the challengers zone. Chuck came a few moments later, carrying only two Pokeballs. This would be easy. "Prepare to die, Star. Go, Primape!" He threw his Pokeball, and his Primeape entered the battlefield. His Primeape looked fierce, but I knew just how to deal with it. "Go, Ava!" I threw my Pokeball, and Ava entered the battlefield. With Ava's new form came a new strategy, one that was sure to work. "Ava, use Sleep Powder!" Ava flung herself towards Primeape, releasing green spores on to him. However, Primeape did not sleep. "Wha-!" I gasped. "Hahahah! You'll have to do better than that. Primeape, Rock Slide!" Primeape picked up one of the many rocks on to the battlefield, and hurled it at Ava. The rock hit hard, and Ava was on the ground, shaking. "Ava, come on!" Ava got up slowly, still alive. "Ava, Synthesis!" Ava started to absorb the light from the stage lights that lit up the room, healing her almost fully. "Primeape, Double Team!" Primeape started to run around Ava extremely fast, making copies of himself. Ava panicked, not knowing what to do.

"Ava, stay focused, and use Leech Seed!" Ava closed her eyes, trying to search for the real Primeape. Suddenly, she charged, hitting Primeape square in the side, and releasing her Leech Seed. The seeds stuck. "Alright Ava!" I yelled. "Primeape, Double Team again!" Primeape, again, made more copies of himself. Then, the copies seemed to break for a second as the Leech seed sapped Primeapes health. "Ava, Mega Drain!" Ava took advantage of the sudden break in Primeapes Double Team, and glowed green. Primeape glowed green as well, and Ava sucked some of the life out of him, using it to replenish her own. "Primeape, keep up the Double Team!" Primeape began to run in a wider circle, creating even more copies. But, nonetheless, Leech Seed continued to steal his health.

"Ava, use Mega Drain!" Ava charged towards one of the Primeapes, latching on to it for a split second, until the Primeape disappeared, causing Ava to stumble to the across the floor. "Primeape, Rock Slide!" Primeape picked up another rock, and ran towards Ava. He stopped, standing directly in front of Ava. Primeape brought down the rock, hitting Ava hard. There was a sickening heave as Ava's breath was knocked out of her. Then, Primeape collapsed to his knee. Leech Seed was making short work of this angry monkey beast.

"Ava, Synthesis!" Ava absorbed the lights of the battlefield, healing herself once more. "Primeape, Rock Slide again!" Primeape threw another rock at Ava. She moved out of the way, but only enough for the rock to miss her body. The rock hit one of Ava's dandelion arms, making her spin wildly until she hit the wall. Primeape, again, had his health stolen by Leech Seed.

I looked Ava over, considering my options. I could use Synthesis again, I thought, but Primeape isn't looking too good, and I can guarantee that Chuck has a Hyper Potion in store for him. I could use Mega Drain and hope for the best, but Primeape still has some of his Double Team copies running about... I decided to take the risk. "Ava, use Mega Drain!" Ava focused, noticing my voice was tinged with urgency. Ava tried to hit the right Primeape, but sadly, hit the wrong one, and fell to the ground, the copy disappearing in a puff of smoke. "Primeape, hurry, use Rock Slide!" I gasped. Primeape hurried, as ordered, and slammed a rock on to Ava's body. Ava cried out, begging for mercy, but was interrupted by Primeape slamming the boulder on top of her. Primeape lifted the boulder, and Ava's now dead body was revealed.

My hands balled in to fists, and started to shake. "So much for being a strong trainer," Chuck rolled his eyes, getting bored. I returned my Pokemon, a tear sliding down my cheek. "Aw, could it be that the great and powerful Star is crying?" Chuck laughed. "Kid, learn not to show weakness." I lost it at that point. More tears started streaming, and I had to place my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs. I looked at Ava's Pokeball solemnly. I pushed the button to make it shrink, and slipped it in to my back pocket. Then, I grabbed for another one. "Go, Baku...!" I managed to choke out. Baku entered the battlefield, waving his pendulum ever so slightly, already beginning to focus his psychic powers.

"Primeape, Rock Slide!" Primeape slammed a rock in to Baku. Baku shielded his face, and the rock shattered on his arms. Chuck laughed, seeing another opportunity to attack. "Primeape-" But Primeape suddenly fell to his knees, gasping for air. "Primeape!" Chuck yelled. He ran over to Primeape, and sprayed him with a Hyper Potion. I, myself, saw an opportunity arrising myself. "Baku, Psybeam!" Baku swung his pendalum more noticably, and shoved his arms out. From the pendalum, a wave of psychic energy hit Primeape hard.

Chuck, stubborn as ever, didn't notice Primeapes condition. "Primeape, Rock Slide!" Primeape threw another rock at Baku. Baku, again, wasn't very hurt by the massive rock. "Baku, finish it! Psybeam!" Baku released another beam of psychic energy, this one hitting Primeape square in the gut. Primeape tumbled backwards, and hit the wall of the arena, dead. "Noooo!" Chuck cried out. He collapsed to his knees, held his head, and bellowed in frustration. "Hey, Chuck!" I yelled, trying to get his attention. He released his head, glaring at me. "Learn not to show weakness." Chuck narrowed his eyes, glaring even more fiercely. I laughed a little, still disheartened by Ava's death, but finding a new courage.

"Go, Poliwrath!" He threw his Pokeball, releasing his Poliwrath. Poliwrath banged his fists together intimidatingly. "Poliwrath, use Body Slam!" Poliwrath charged Baku, taking him down with a solid body blow. Baku was on his back, Poliwrath atop of him. "Baku, Hypnosis!" Baku grabbed Poliwrath's shoulders, and flipped him over. Now, Baku was on top. Baku pinned Poliwraths arms between his legs, and swung his pendulum slowly in front of Poliwraths eyes. Poliwrath drifted to sleep. Baku got up slowly, careful not to wake him. However, as soon as Baku got up, he collapsed, breathing heavily. Body Slam had nearly killed him (5 HP, I STARTED TO PANIC). "Baku, come back!" Baku got up, and limped slowly towards me. I sprayed him with a Hyper Potion, and with that, Baku was ready for battle once again.

"Oh, no!" Chuck yelled. "Poliwrath, get up!" He commanded. "Baku, Psybeam!" Baku swung his pendulum, releasing a beam of energy towards Poliwrath. The beam of energy caused Poliwrath to stumble twice. Chuck stomped the ground. "No.... Not.... Yet...! Hang in there, Poliwrath!" Chuck yelled. I noticed his eyes began to glaze over. "Baku, again!" Baku released another beam of energy towards Poliwrath, this time aiming more carefully. The energy beam hit dead on, causing Poliwrath to fly in to a rock. His breathing became shallow, almost dead. "Baku-" As soon as his name left my mouth, Chuck's Poliwrath woke up. He was disoriented, however, not knowing where he was for a split second. "Surf!" Chuck commanded urgently. Water appeared around Poliwraths feet, quickly elevating to ten feet in height. Then, the wall of water came barreling towards Baku. He panicked, and got swept with the wave, straight in to the wall of the arena. Poliwrath hopped off of the wave, and as soon as he landed, collapsed to his hands and knees. Chuck ran towards Poliwrath, spraying him with yet another Hyper Potion. "Two!?" I was surprised by this. I was so close, too... "That's right, kid, we're still in this! Poliwrath, use Surf!" Again, Poliwrath rose up on a pillar of water, and rushed Baku. Baku was hit with the wave. It was hard to see where Baku was, but when the water cleared, Baku was lying on the ground. "BAKU!" I screamed. Baku got up slowly, and I released a huge sigh of relief. "Alright, that's enough of you, Baku." I raised my Pokeball, and Baku was enveloped with a red energy, returning to his red and white spherical home.

"Go, Prince Kai!" Prince Kai entered the battlefield, and as soon as he did, Chuck laughed. "Do you really think that childish Pokemon would do any better than your last one? Poliwrath, Body Slam!" Before I had a chance to respond, Poliwrath tackled Prince Kai with full force pinning him to the ground. "Poliwrath, again!" Poliwrath got up, off of Prince Kai. Prince Kai rose quickly to his feet, but as soon as he did, was tackled by Poliwrath, pinned to the arena floor. "Prince Kai, Extrasensory!" Prince Kai released an invisible energy towards Prince Kai, sending him flying. Prince Kai rose to his feet, ready once again.

Suddenly, a glowing red aura began to spin around Poliwrath. I knew what this was, and was frightened by what might happen if Poliwrath was successful. "Prince Kai, Extrasensory!" Prince Kai released another invisible wave of psychic energy towards Poliwrath, sending him flying. He hit the ground, and struggled to get back to his feet. He looked bad. "Prince Kai, finish it!" Prince Kai ran towards Poliwrath, and astonishingly, picked him up. He pinned the Poliwrath to the wall, and released yet another wave of psychic energy at Poliwrath, this time at close proximity. Poliwrath screeched as his insides were getting torn around by the un-seeable energy, until finally, the cries for help were silenced. Prince Kai released Poliwrath, and walked quietly back to me, his head hanging low. As soon as Prince Kai was in front of me, he looked up and smiled. I knelt down and hugged him. "You did good..." I whispered. I returned him to his Pokeball, and rose back to my feet and began walking towards Chuck, my hand already outstretched.

Chuck was knelt over his Poliwrath, eyes teary. He didn't notice me until I finally was at his side. "Badge, please." I asked him. He reached in to his pouch and handed me my badge. I slipped it in my pocket and left the gym

~~~~~

I was standing in the Pokemon Center, in front of the PC. I took Ava's Pokeball out of my pocket. I smiled, remembering how supportive Ava had been during training. "Good night, Ava..." I kissed the Pokeball lightly, and deposited her in to the PC. A tear dribbled off of my chin, hitting the my arm. I was surprised by the sudden wetness, not sure at first of what it was. I wiped my face with my sleeve, and took a seat at one of the many waiting chairs in the Pokemon Center.

I reached for my PokeGear, and tuned to the radio station that they broadcasted the gym battles on. "... And, in an explosive turn of events, Chuck lost a gym battle against challenger, the one and only, shooting Star!" I laughed silently at that nickname, not wanting to draw any attention. "His beloved Jumpluff, Ava died during battle. She will be greatly missed. In other news, Chuck has resigned from gym leader status for the present moment." I gasped. "W-What?" I said to myself. "Chuck told us that the loss was all too much for him, and he would return when he has trained a stronger team." I stared at my PokeGear, wanting more answers. "This concludes our report, we'll see you next week!" The radio station turned to some crappy song from a band I didn't know. I turned off the radio, and walked out of the Pokemon Center, making my way back to Olivine City, where the next gym would be.

~~~~~

OOOHHH MY GOD. Sorry this took so long to make. Training was hard. Tentacools and such. Everyone has really high Special Defense from training. I wasted a ton of EV's, but oh well. I'll try to be smarter about where I train next time.

-Current Team-

Cerise (Noctowl) Lvl 28
Geos (Croconaw) Lvl 28
Baku (Hypno) Lvl 27
Prince Kai (Togetic) Lvl 29
Mystie (Stantler) Lvl 25

-Boxed Pokémon-
Tinny (Magnemite) Lvl 16
Shade (Tentacool) Lvl 25
Kelli (Machop) Lvl 13
Amy (Flaffy) Lvl 15

-Current Deaths-

Ava (Jumpluff) Lvl 28
Zaneca (Spearow) Lvl 10