Just because I’m travelling with Tetsubo, no doubt, I’m asked to tell the world about my Gym Battles. I’m not a very good speaker, so after some careful thought, I decided to hand in some diary entries. When you’ve got amnesia, you tend to start being cautious about memories and write things down, this will probably show another side to me that I feel the world need not see, but I suppose its for the best. I’ve decided that Tetsubo is nice once you get to know him, he doesn’t treat me like a child, but if he thinks he’s going win the Kanto League rather than me then he’s wrong, I have to win or I may never find my parents. --- Gym Battle in Pewter City (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- I arrived in Pewter quickly, after riding on Armour, my protective Rhyhorn. He shielded me from danger like I meant the world to him, it made me wonder about the person I used to be. I had just showed a girl with green hair that even withdrawn trainers could win matches. It was kind of pathetic the way I took her Pokémon apart, literally. They were sure to be headed up here, and I wasn’t in the mood for any more of that girl’s patronising speeches, or that boy with the turquoise hair telling me that he had seen me in the Safari Zone, I kept it in mind though, I might find my memories or my parents there. I went to the Gym before it closed up for the evening. “One last trainer before I shut up for the night.” said a gruff man. He looked of Asian heritage, and had spiky hair, a yellow shirt and blue trousers, and his eyes were locked in a narrow stare, almost as if his eyes was shut. “I suppose this’ll be quick.” I wasn’t giving him satisfaction by answering. “What’s wrong, can’t you talk?” “Only when I have to.” “You sure are direct, little girl, I’ll go easy on you. Two-on-two battle.” I was cross from the little girl treatment but there was no need to answer to that either, I was mature for my age and if he was stupid enough to underestimate me, then he deserved to lose through his generosity. “I choose Graveler!” "GRAVELER!" “Pixie, you’d better handle it.” “Clefairy!” “A tiny Pokémon like that won’t win, Rock Pokémon have a great defense against Normal-types.” “Show him how good you are Pixie, Metronome.” “Clefairy!!!” A weak Psychic attack pushed the Graveler back but it curled into a ball and rolled forward. “Pixie, move aside...” By now Pixie had picked up on my way of thinking, ‘Move aside’ to me, meant ‘Run a lot’ to her. I rarely showed my fear, or fear for my Pokémon’s safety, but they knew I cared. “Pixie, another Metronome, concentrate on Grass or Water attacks.” “Cle-fairy!” A Flamethrower attack appeared from her fingers. “No, Pixie, I don’t think that’s right.” I said sarcastically. She sighed and leaped over the rolling Graveler. “Clefairy! Fairy! Fairy!” An Egg Bomb, a Poison Sting, and a Thunderbolt. All ineffective. Pixie was trying her hardest but the nature of Metronome was basically like a box of chocolates, not knowing what you’ll get. “Don’t worry Pixie, just keep avoiding that Graveler until it happens.” She smiled and shot out a Water Gun which blasted the Graveler back, it tumbled into a heap and stayed down. “Nice...” I said simply, rather than releasing a lot of positive emotions. I simply didn’t find the use for leaping and shouting like some other trainers I’d met. “You proved your point girl, but your doll won’t be able to withstand this Pokémon’s attacks.” “RRHHHYYY!!!” My eyes narrowed and I almost felt like smiling. “Pixie, Return, Armour, this is your specialty...” “RRHHYYY!!!” The Gym Leader gasped, “How did you manage to catch that Rhyhorn, no one has brought one of those in here!” “To tell you the truth I’m not quite sure myself.” “Don’t make jokes, child! Rhyhorn! Horn Attack!” “Armour, do the same.” They clashed together and wrestled with their spikes. “You can’t beat my Rhyhorn, he has experience! Rhyhorn! Take Down!!!” Armour was hit and slid back. “Stomp it down!” “Move aside, Armour.” He moved away slowly, like me he remained very much calm most the time, the other times, he was quite ferocious and only I could control his actions. He moved to the side and the other Rhyhorn crashed down. I didn’t expect the next occurrence, the stomping caused a tremor in the arena and it knocked me down and towards the enemy Rhyhorn as it was stomping. Armour screamed and used ‘Take Down’ rather effectively. The enemy collided with the wall and fell down damaged. Armour looked weary, damaged by its own attack. “Armour...” I said surprised, he had just saved my life. “I knew you were protective of me but...” “Rhhhyyy...” he groaned but gave me a rare look of kindness. I didn’t know what drove Armour to protect me, but I was rather happy to have someone to fend off danger. When I chose the name Armour, I didn’t know how much the name would suit him. “Okay Armour... Fury Attack.” “RRRHHYYY!!!” He charged forward and rammed the enemy with all his strength. And the match was ours. The Gym Leader was astonished. “I’m sorry I doubted you, you really do know how to handle your Rhyhorn, I see I’ll have to improve my training to match those like you.” “There are no others like me.” I replied darkly. “Here you go, a Boulder Badge.” he said handing me a grey octagon gem. I held the badge and stared at it, then closed my hand around it quickly. I left the city late at night. With no money I’d have to camp out in Route 3, and continue living off people’s generosity. It wouldn’t always be like this, I constantly told myself. I’d find my parents and maybe regain the traits of my former self. --- Chad's Second Gym Battle Chad's Third Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone