"I still can’t believe I won!" Eevy shouted, "I beat Dragon- types!"

"Sure you did!" Mizu nodded, "You’re Eevy! You know, Raikou’s angel girl."

"Yeah, but…" she trailed off and looked out the window, "The Platinum Badge is next. There’s more than just that that worries me."

"Why?" Yuu-Yuu asked, "What else can bug you as much as Taylor?"

"Moss Bogs," Morty, Eusine and Eevy whispered together.

"No!" Medira wailed, "No! Not again! Never, ever, ever!"

"I thought it was a blast!" Sooney said a little louder than expected, "Those Grimer rule!"

"Yes, she is right this once," Mizu nodded again, "They were pretty cool."

"Uh huh," the other four girls nodded.

"You never told me you saw Golden Grimer," Eusine whined.

"That’s because when I saw you again I didn’t think you deserved to know," Eevy scolded, "You sat in a city you knew I’d eventually be in and played poker."

"Well…" he trailed off at the evil look from Morty.

"You disgust me, Eusine, you really do," Morty scolded.

"Yeah I know," Eusine looked down at the floor, "Just a force of habit."

"Bull," Eevy and Morty said together.

"Come on, lay off him, you two," Mizu stepped in, "He tries. Don’t you?"

"Yeah," he smiled at her, causing everyone to half gag, "Well," he retaliated at the noises, "I don’t make noises when you get all lovey-dovey with each other."

"Ah," JP waved his hand at him, "Whatever. Are we leaving in the morning?"

"If you’re all ready to brave the Moss Bogs again," Eevy breathed heavily.

"Well," Mizu and Eusine sighed.

"Uh," Medira and JP trailed off.

"Um," Lisle and Morty stepped back.

"Eh," Starla and Phantom groaned.

"Maybe," Dragon looked for a better answer.

"Come on, you guys!" Sooney and Yuu-Yuu stood up, "We can’t let Eevy down!"

"Huh?" Eevy looked to them, "Are you two actually willing to go back into the Bogs with me?"

"Yeah!" Sooney said loudly, "You bet!"

"Why not?" Yuu-Yuu asked quickly, "You’re our friend!"

"Well," Dragon stepped forward, "If those two are going in, so am I!"

"Yeah!" JP and Phantom burst with Phantom pulling Starla up beside him, "And so is she!"

"We’re in too!" Lisle dragged Morty over.

"Can’t forget us!" Mizu and Eusine both said willingly.

"I suppose if you’re all tromping though there I’ll follow," Medira smirked.

"We’re behind you all the way," Sovo said as he stretched and stood up.

"You bet," Vovo laid with his head on his front paws.

"I like water and bogs are cool too," Novo yawned and sat straight.

"I don’t like water, but traveling rules!" Zovo smirked before Lovo pushed him out of the way.

"Give me a turn too!" Lovo laughed at his fallen brother.

"Count me out. I don’t wanna go," Yovo curled up in a tight little ball in the corner.

"Oh," Yuu-Yuu whimpered, "Poor guy. He lost twice in a row in both Gym Battles he was in. He must be feeling pretty lame."

"Hey you," Eevy knelt down beside him, "You perk up. You were great."

"No I wasn’t," he whined, "I let them get through my defense and my speed bit the dust," he stayed facing the wall.

"Don’t be that way, bro," Sovo laughed and poked him in the back of his head with his forked tail, "Come on. I’ve had my share of losses."

"Me too," Lovo admitted, "Painful ones."

"Oh, yeah. I know that feeling," Zovo nodded.

"I’ve taken a couple not-so-pretty falls," Novo smirked nervously.

The others turned to Vovo, "What?" he asked, "I’ve never lost."

"Bull," Eevy commented in a odd tone, "Bull flyin’ ova’ da’ moon ‘n back."

Vovo narrowed his eyes, "OK fine. I’ve had one-" Eevy coughed, "-a couple of defeats."

Yovo rolled over, "You sure?"

"Yeah," Sovo commented in his Mr. Cool attitude, "Man, I lost bad against Sunny and his Espeon. Woah! That was bad! I mean bad!"

"And me with that Tentacruel of Jenna’s! Woo! That was a major bomb. Like nuclear explosion!"

"When that Ledian thing kick me down! Geez, I thought I was gonna keel over! I lost to a Bug! A BUG for cryin’ out loud!"

"That Magmar! In Dogwood City, you remember that? That thing whooped me somethin’ fierce! That Cain boy’s got an army behind that thing!"

"I ate dirt against that Wendy girl and her Haunter. I was in Loser City, U.S.A. out there! Confuse Rays hurt, boy!"

Yovo still didn’t look all that happy, "So what?" he moaned and rolled back over.

"Yovo," Eevy said, attracting the attention of her other Pokemon, "Just because you lose a couple matches doesn’t mean you’re a bad Pokemon. What about that rippin’ Umbreon Crunch you know? And your great Take Down and Faint Attacks? Your brothers and I are behind you all the way, not to mention Vovo and everybody else. You’ll win a match yet! What do you call what you did to Team Rocket all those times?"

Yovo rolled slowly over and saw Eevy sitting on one knee in front of him. On her shoulder, Vovo sat smiling at him and on either side of her his brothers stood nodding. Behind her was the usual group, all smiling to make him feel better. He sprawled over and stood up.

"You think so?" he asked quietly.

"Hey, yeah!" Eevy laughed.

Yovo took this in carefully and planned to think of that scene with all his friends when he was battling, "Alright then! Let’s go!"

"Yeah!" Medira smirked evilly, "Look out Taylor; we comin’ home!"

*^~^**^~^*

"So," Taylor put his legs out on the table in front of him, "Angel’s won the Gold Badge. How quaint."

He reached out to his right and pulled a picture from the table, grinning evilly. It was a photo. A photo of him and a certain girl with two-colored eyes. That was taken when they were still happy to be together. When they really were interested with each other. That lasted for about a week. Now Eevy was returning home, giving him another chance to get what he wanted; giving him another chance to get her.

"You want us to go get her?" Jullian asked in a bored tone.

"No," Taylor shook his head and smiled with an absolute evil face while putting the picture down, "Don’t venture over the border. Let her get a taste of the Moss Bogs too."

"If you say so, Master T," Joe shrugged.

"Don’t worry," Taylor nodded, "She’s bringing friends, Ray tells me. Girly-girl friends."

"Ooh," Jullian and Joe laughed with toothy grins.

"Come on, Angel. Come straight back home," Taylor laughed so menacingly it echoed.

Kayla stood behind the door and swallowed hard, "I’d better keep an eye out for Eevy," she thought and silently walked away.

*^~^**^~^*

"No more Moss Bogs, no more Moss Bogs, no more Moss Bogs," Medira repeated until they reached the edge of the Bogs, "Too many Moss Bogs, too many Moss Bogs…"

"Would you please stop that?" Mizu asked with an annoyed face, "You’re making me nervous."

"You’re not anyway?"

"Not really."

"I think you should stop worrying," Eusine wrapped his arms around Mizu’s waist, "Both of you."

"Yeah, he’s right," JP held Medira’s shoulders, "Nothing to worry about!"

"Well then, Mr. Smart," Medira pulled away and turned around, "How do we get across it then?"

"Uh…Um…Well," he trailed off and turned around, "OK, yeah. Uh…"

"Forget it," Phantom shook his head, "He’ll never think of anything."

"Hey! Shut up!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"I can say what I want!"

"Not about me ya’ can’t!"

"Munchkin!"

"Psy Boy!"

Dragon moaned and rubbed his forehead, "Shut up, you two."

"Please," Eevy groaned and held her head, "You’re giving me a headache."

After they had successfully pried Phantom and JP from each other, the group decided to work on plans to get across the Bogs. Eevy suggested rock jumping like last time, but the other girls reminded her where that got them. Phantom wanted to teleport, but Starla put in that the last time he tried that in the Bogs he teleported halfway in and got stuck there. Morty offered his Ghosts to teleport, but a few of the girls wanted no part of that. JP asked why they didn’t just take the train and Eusine pointed out that the train went past Rose Town and into Iris. They threw various ideas at each other for a bit before Dragon finally spoke up.

"Maybe tree jumping?" he asked.

"You mean go up in those rotten old trees and jump along?!" Sooney looked him over, "You’re a psycho!"

"No he’s not," Eevy stood up, "It’s easy. Come on, I’ll show you!"

"Are you sure about this, sis? I mean, it is really dangerous," Morty pointed out.

"Yeah, but that’s the fun part," she laughed as she looked for the right trees, "There we go."

She walked forward and checked the stability of the trees. One swift run and she started up, pushing off back and forth between trees. She finally hit the first branch on the one and swung herself up to sit. She stayed still to be sure the branch wasn't going to break. She stood up and turned around, jumping to the branch across from her. She turned back around and looked down at her completely lost friends.

"Well?" she questioned, "You guys coming?"

"Eh," Yuu-Yuu whimpered, "OK. Why not?"

It took Yuu-Yuu and Sooney each a good half dozen tries to get up to a branch and the two of them relied on Eevy’s help from there on in. Mizu took two tries and stopped next to Eevy with a huge smile. Medira was a bit weary of this. She wasn’t too sure about her boots and skirt. JP stepped around her and went right up the tree with one shot, swinging around a branch and sitting down next to Eevy and Mizu. Medira scowled up to them and then started on her own way.

"Well, alright," she grinned, "How hard can it be?"

She had totally underestimated this. She tried to ricochet up like Eevy had, but simply came slipping back down to sit. Eevy, Mizu, Sooney and Yuu-Yuu stood on their branches laughing at her. JP sat next to Eevy with his left leg pulled up and his right leg hanging off, simply shaking his head.

"And what, pray tell, is so funny?" Medira snorted as she stood up and brushed off.

"You!" Eevy laughed.

"Not funny!"

She tried three more times, each time flying back down and triggering a roaring wave of laughter from everyone else. JP finally had enough and stood up.

"You’re not quick enough," he pointed out.

"And you’re SO much quicker I suppose?"

"Oh yeah," he nodded.

"Really?" she asked in a retaliating tone.

He smiled evilly and slid off the branch. He landed on one foot on a rock and jumped off, jumping from stone to stone and tree root to tree root. She just watched with her mouth hanging open and her hands slowly falling from their once firm placements on her hips. He jumped and grabbed her, taking advantage of her open mouth as he jumped again, this time holding her and kissing her. He stopped on a low branch and jumped again, stepping up to a branch across from the girls. Dragon, Phantom and Starla clapped a few times while everyone else went nuts. They’d seen him do that plenty off times. Not necessarily while kissing who he was carrying, but still, it was pretty old by now.

"Whoa," Medira said as they stopped and he pulled away.

"Whoa what?" he asked in a completely serious tone.

"Just…whoa."

Eevy and the girls shook their heads as Eusine tipped to a stop beside them and grabbed Mizu’s waist as he slipped backward. Mizu hooked her legs around the branch, grabbing at Eusine’s wrists. Eusine let out a sigh of relief as Mizu caught him and held them both up. Eevy reached out to help her cousin up and Mizu swung herself back to position after a few seconds. Morty and Lisle made their way up easily, stopping on a branch with Morty clinging to Lisle like he was afraid, though she knew he was lying. Dragon, Phantom and Starla shrugged and jumped forward, each taking their own route up. Dragon came up behind Eevy and took her waist, jumping across to another branch. Starla and Phantom stopped perfectly on a different branch and yawned.

"Cool," Yuu-Yuu admitted, "Now what?"

"We jump!" Eevy pointed out.

"Wha?" Sooney whimpered.

"Come on!" Morty grabbed Lisle’s wrist and pulled her screaming off the branch.

Dragon and Eevy followed right behind. They jumped from branch to branch with poor Lisle wailing at a mile a minute about how cruel Morty was being. JP set a sly smirk on his face and grabbed Medira’s arm as she tried to back away. He followed with her screaming. Mizu pulled Eusine along behind her and Sooney and Yuu-Yuu lagged behind. Eevy stepped down on a branch that was a lot more rubbery than it appeared. It bent beneath her foot, sending her slipping to the side. She just caught the end enough to stay up with Morty and Eusine stopping on the branch in front of her to pull her up. She stepped up between them, panting hard. She put one arm over each of their shoulders and shook herself straight. They heard the worst possible noise just then.

"Slugma slug," a group of Slugma oozed beneath them, looking up and seeing them standing there, cowering, "SLUGMA!"

"Oh shit," Eevy whimpered.

"They’re firing Flamethrower!" Dragon cried, "Jump!"

The flames ripped up towards the branch, slamming into it just as they jumped away. They turned and saw the branch get fired loose from the tree and topple to the ground, exploding in wood shrapnel. The rest of the group started running as more Slugma and a few unfriendly Magcargo appeared.

"Run, run, run, run, run!" JP flipped as Medira held tightly to his waist, "They ain’t happy!"

"No fake!" Morty found a straight path of branches, "Look there!"

These branches were close enough to run along them. The group switched positions as needed and ran across them with their fiery buddies launching fire attack after fire attack up towards the branches, most burned up or off the tree.

"Watch it there! Missing branch!" Lisle shouted as she jumped a break.

Unfortunately, Eevy didn’t hear that and stepped right down the hole, "I missed…"

She caught a branch in her right hand. She put her left hand up and undid her belt with her right. She flung the belt up to Dragon who had stopped.

"Take care of them," she said as he caught it, "Go! I’ll be fine!"

"Just hold on!" Dragon whimpered, "Raikou, help us."

The slip of branch she had managed to grab was holding nicely until a Flame Wheel whipped in front of her. She covered her face with her right arm while holding with the left, but the fire grazed her hand. She let go and started falling straight towards the Pokemon.

"Screw the rules!" Medira stopped and turned around, "Go, Wind Dance!" the Pidgeot broke from the ball, stretching and flapping its wings wildly, "I’m coming, Eevy!"

"I am in SO much trouble," Eevy whimpered as she fell.

She hit something hard yet soft and took it as the Moss because of the soft feel. She opened one eye to see tan feathers under her face. She opened the other and saw a maroon and yellow feather headdress. It hit her then as she rolled over and saw Medira waving her fingers with a huge grin.

"Wind Dance," Eevy gagged, "Medira. You saved me."

"Nah," she waved her hands, "I just did ya’ a favor. Remember that ‘cause you owe me now."

"Thank you," Eevy nodded until a Poke’Ball belt slammed down in front of her and she looked up, "Dragon!" he flapped away on his Dragonite beside them.

"The one and only," he waved, "You alright?"

"I’m fine. We’d better take care of those Slugma and Magcargo," she got on her knees and inched to the side, slipping off the bird and onto a branch, "Go, Novo!"

"Wavemaker’s too fat," Medira laughed.

"Go, Dragonair!" Dragon threw his Poke’Ball.

"Novo!" Eevy shouted.

"Dragonair!" Dragon called.

"Hydro Pump attack!" they cried together.

The group continued running from the Slugma and Magcargo. The fire was getting more and more accurate. The sound of rushing water caused them to stop and turn around. The fire escargots were stuck in a wall of water. The blue rush cleared and the Magcargo and Slugma took off, oozing into the Moss Bogs. Behind them ran Eevy, Dragon and Medira along with Wind Dance, Dragonite, Dragonair and Novo. Medira and Dragon hovered next to a branch and quickly recalled the Dragonite and the Pidgeot, mumbling that they weren’t the ones flying. Eevy stopped next to them and recalled Novo.

"Cool," Sooney nodded, "Double drowning."

"You go, guys!" Yuu-Yuu smirked, "We’re alive!"

"I live!" Eusine joked, "I survived!"

Eevy looked at her watch, "Man!" she shouted, "It’s getting late! Hurry up! The longer we’re out the more little buddies we run into. The remnants of the bridge are down there. Let’s go!"

*^~^**^~^*

"Eevy."

"What?"

"I officially hate you," Medira whimpered as she inched along.

"Why?" Eevy asked half sarcastically.

"You said there were remnants, not just rails!"

"Well, it’s been a while since I was last here," she whimpered nervously.

They had gathered with six on each rail, since that’s all that was left. The handle bars to the old bridge stood perfectly, but the bridge itself was pretty much gone. The group stepped carefully along the rail with Eevy in front of one side, followed by Dragon then Morty, Lisle, Mizu and Eusine. The other side was led by Medira, then JP, then Phantom, Starla, Yuu-Yuu and Sooney. It was quite a tipsy ride, tilting back and forth with every step. Sooney kept steadying Yuu-Yuu and Eusine kept clinging to Mizu to keep from flying off. Eevy heard a very strange noise and paused.

"If that’s what I think it is…" she slowly turned around with Dragon mimicking, "Run!"

She took off down the bar, paying the fact that it was incredibly dangerous no mind. Of course, a HUGE totally annoyed and totally pissed off Muk doesn’t do too much for ya’ either. Dragon ran behind her with the others flailing to keep up. The Muk crashed through the poles with everyone pushing everyone in front of them to go faster. Poor Eusine and Yuu-Yuu were flipping out, being all the way at the end and closest to this Muky-massacre. Eevy noticed the bridge was actually stable here and jumped off to run on the flat surface. The others followed, but the Muk kept breaking through it. Eusine tripped, snagging his pant leg on a loose nail.

"Hey wait!" he cried, "Don’t leave me!"

"Eusine!" Morty, Eevy and Mizu stopped to help him.

"That’s it," Eevy spat, "Let’s go, you mucky moron!"

Morty and Mizu fought to unhook Eusine as Eevy called a storm again. The Muk stopped and looked around, but kept moving closer. Will had had enough.

"Go, Xatu!"

"Go, Jynx!" Luri joined.

"Go, Sovo!"

"Psychic attack!" they commanded.

The Muk stopped and oozed into the sludge as Morty and Mizu pulled Eusine free, "Well," Eusine cleared his throat, "I guess he left."

As everyone turned to leave, the wood of the bridge itself tore upward, knocking Sooney and Yuu-Yuu back and throwing Medira into the air. She toppled back down, slamming her head on the bar and going out like a light. Jason was burning up now.

"OK!" he spat, "You’ve gone and done yourself in now! Go, Shine Ball!"

Out came a Scizor in a Metal Coat, coving its body in silver. It opened and closed its pincers angrily and took a swing at the Muk.

"Scizor, go! Use Metal Claw!"

Scizor came down on top of Muk with lightning speed. Muk oozed and slopped around as he tried to avoid, but Steel- attacks do a job on Poison- types, even big blobby Muk.

"OK, Scizor! Get it with Pursuit attack, now!"

Scizor took one flying leap at Muk’s face, cracking him in the head. He swung back for a Slash attack across the eye and Muk slowly drooped and gurgled back into the Moss. JP shot it a dirty scowl and he and Scizor sat down next to Medira.

"Hey," he shook her shoulder with Scizor watching worriedly, "Wake up."

Medira moved her hand to her head and opened her eyes, "Ah!" she spotted Scizor and lunged to JP’s neck, "Where’d that come from?"

"Don’t worry. That’s just my Scizor," he pried her off, "Say hello, Scizor."

"Scizor sciz," it made the sound of sheering metal as it bowed politely.

"Yeah," Medira whimpered, "Hi."

"Good job, Scizor. Return and take a rest," the Scizor was pulled back inside his Poke’Ball, "Hopefully that will be the last of our visitors."

*^~^**^~^*

About two hours later they reached land. They had gone so far with the Slugma and Magcargo that they had passed over the Gladiola River in the trees. Eevy was overly thankful for that as they continued down Route 64 to her hometown of Rose.

"Mom and dad are gonna flip!" Eevy cheered, "I didn’t even tell them we were coming," she paused and turned around, "You four might want to stay away from my parents," she noted to Dragon, Starla, Phantom and JP, "They won’t care for your looks and they’ll start an interrogation."

"Oh," they looked at each other, "Maybe."

"Eevy!" came a scream and a figure dressed in purple, "Eevy!"

"Kayla!" Eevy shrieked, "Hi!"

"Stay out of Rose," she panted as she neared them, "Taylor’s watching for you."

"I don’t care," she surprised everyone, "I’m going home."

"Yeah," Medira nodded, still holding her head, "Let Taylor go fall off a cliff on Mount Everest."

"Uh huh," they all agreed.

Kayla looked a bit worried, but calmed, "OK…Great! Let’s go!"

*^~^**^~^*

"Hey, Greg," Eevy’s mother called to her father, "Where’s Nova?"

"I have no clue, Tammy," he answered, "I thought she was with you."

"Nova! Nova, where are you?"

"Eevee eev!" Nova called back as she ran down the street, "Eevee eevee eev!"

"Nova! Where are you going?"

"Nova!" Eevy knelt down, "Little baby girl!"

"Oh wow," Tammy’s jaw hit the porch floor, "Greg, look!"

"Hi, mom!" Eevy waved with a wink, "How’s it goin’?"

"Just great!" her mother slammed the porch door open and rampaged down the street, latching onto Eevy as she hit and pulling Morty over in a choking grip, "My babies!"

"Air, mother. Please," Morty and Eevy choked together.

"And Eusine!" Eevy and Morty got air, but Eusine lost his, "How are your parents?"

"Fine, Aunt Tammy. Just fine," Eusine gagged, "But I won’t be if you don’t let go."

"I’m sorry, but it’s been so long!" she pulled all three together, "The three sweetest kids around!"

"Yeah, right," they gasped.

"Eevy!" their father bellowed and pulled her from her mother to himself, "My little girl."

"Yeah. OK. I get it," Eevy held her breath before he let her go, "Oxygen!"

"Morty," he slapped his back, sending him forward a step and knocking the air out of him, "And Eusine," he hugged him, sending a huge gasp of air from him.

"Ooh!" Tammy flipped, "Let me see your Badges!"

"Oh, OK," she dug into her bag, "Here. All eleven."

"Wow," Kayla whimpered, "Cool."

"Two from the PMD," Greg’s jaw fell.

"Let me see that!" someone snatched the bag from her hand, "Pretty impressive."

"Give it back, Jullian!" Eevy snapped, ripping it from his hand, "Go back and train with your goofy friends."

"Sorry," Joe laughed from behind him, "Taylor wants to talk to you."

"I don’t think so," Lisle snorted.

"You’re pretty," Jullian inched over to her side, "Got some time to spare with me?"

"Only if your face is planted on the pavement and I can stomp on it. Sure, in that case, I’d have plenty of time to spare."

"You best back off, boy," Morty spat, pulling Lisle closer.

"Ooh, scary!" Joe made a mock scared face.

"You better be scared!" Morty growled.

"And look at all the other girls," Jullian smirked, "Cute."

"Take one step closer and I snap you in half," Eusine spat as Joe moved closer to Mizu.

"You’re with one of Eevy’s friends?" Tammy asked, completely oblivious to what was going on, "How cute!"

"Tammy, I think you and I should go," Greg grabbed her shoulders, knowing the situation, "Come home soon," he emphasized and they walked away.

"Hey, hey!" Jullian spotted Medira, "Cute-ay!"

"Eww!" she leaned away, "Back off, slime ball!"

Jullian was about to make another smart comment, but a fist across the face usually halts cute chatter, "Step away slowly, or I’ll remove ya’ head."

"Who’s that?" Jullian rubbed his face, "And who’s the babe!"

"Well, to you I’m sir. To these people I’m JP."

"I’m Phantom, and this ‘babe’, as you put it, is mine."

"Starla, scuz-face."

"Whoopee," Jullian and Joe mocked, "Three clocked nut balls."

"Four," someone growled behind them.

They spun and stepped away, "Woah," they whimpered.

"Something wrong?" Dragon cocked his head, "You seem afraid."

"No," Joe squeaked, "Nothing."

"Dragon, be nice," Eevy laughed, "No matter how much pain you could inflict."

"Dragon?" Jullian stepped away again, "I’m outta here!"

"Count me in too!" Joe took off behind him, "Don’t forget! You still need the Platinum Badge!"

"I believe, among other things, the words gaping asses come to mind," Lisle nodded.

"Just ignore those two," Morty shook his head, "They’re not worth our time."

"That’s for sure," Eevy added, "Those two would do anything for anybody if they promised them enough cash, which usually doesn’t take much."

"Just think. I gotta live with them. Yick," Kayla gagged.

"You alright?" JP asked the sickened Medira.

"Yeah, I’m fine," she answered, "Just grossed out."

"Are you going to be alright with battling Taylor?" Dragon asked carefully.

"Yeah!" Eevy burst, "I’m gonna love it!"

"That’s the spirit!" Sooney encouraged.

"Should we go now?" Yuu-Yuu asked, "Or are we gonna hang out a little first?"

"No," Eevy said flatly, "Now."

*^~^**^~^*

Eevy threw open the doors of the Gym, sending Jullian and Joe sky high in surprise. They stood up and brushed off, trying to look important. Eevy rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.

"OK boys, where ya’ hiding Taylor?" she cracked.

"You’re honestly going to challenge him?" Jullian laughed, "Oh, come on, Eevy! You can’t beat him!"

"First of all, it’s Evangelina to you two suck-ups and yes, I do want to challenge him, so get him out here!"

"Why certainly!" Taylor grinned from his chair, "I’m out and about already!"

"Man, how did you get up here so fast? I always thought it took a while to get here from so far below."

"So funny," he smirked, "Just like usual."

"Don’t start with me, ya’ scum inhaling dirt bag! I came for a match and I expect to get it!"

He brushed his hair aside, "Alright then, butterfly. You’ve got yourself a battle."

"Don’t call me that," she spat, "That is never to be spoken around me again."

"Whatever you say," he paused, "Butterfly."

"Stop it, Taylor!" Kayla shouted, "Get on with this!"

"Eh," he waved her away, "In a little bit. I’d like to meet your new friends first. Come now, butterfly. Who are these pretty girls?"

"I’ll tell you who we are!" Sooney cracked, "I am Sooney Shippou from Trident Town in Hokubu! I’m training to be a Poison Mistress!"

"I’m Yuu-Yuu Palm of Lily City, Nanka! My dream is to capture Suicune and earn a place among Legends!"

"I am Mizu Mist formerly of Daffodil City, Nanka’s Pokemon Gym! My dream is to meet the Mistress of Water, Lurianna Sedna!"

Starla giggled a bit after that, "I’m Medira Kurayami of Dogwood City, Nanka! I train Dark- and Fire- types! My dream of being a Gym Leader will soon prevail!"

"I am Lisle Illusion of Ecruteak Pokemon Gym in Johto! I help hold the Fog Badge and someday hope to be a Mistress of Ghosts!"

"You already know me, but I’ll refresh your memory! I’m Eusine Hikoboshi of Celadon City, Kanto! My dream of being a Mixture Master will come true yet!"

"Ya’ know me too, but I feel like a good speech! I’m Morty Hikoboshi, Master of Ecruteak City Pokemon Gym in Johto! I’m here to cheer for my sister and watch you take a dive!"

"I am Evangelina Hikoboshi of this very city! I come as a Challenger for the Platinum Badge; my twelfth and final Badge on the Gertan Rin Rainbow League expanse. You want action? I’ll give it to you! Let’s battle!"

"Cute," Taylor merely smirked, "But cute doesn’t win matches. It may win me over, but not my Pokemon. How about those other four goons there? The cloaked quartet."

"You can call me Starla," Luri cracked, "My Water- and Ice- type Pokemon show no mercy! Not even to Fire- or Electric- types! Watch yourself around me!"

"I’m Phantom!" Will snorted, "The Psychic- types in my line-up can tear through anything! Keep your distance or I may do something I will regret!"

"JP’s the name and Rapidash’s my game!" Jason snapped, "My Pokemon can take anything anyone dishes out! Never mess with us!"

"I am Dragon," Lance stated incredibly flatly, "There’s only one thing closer to me than my Dragons, and that same thing I love the most. That thing is her," his index finger flew towards Eevy, "Got a problem with that?"

Taylor’s face got redder and redder, "What do you mean by that?!" he snorted.

"Just was he says," Eevy laughed at him, "Stupid ninny. You didn’t honestly think I came back for you, did you?"

"Ooh. Eevy’s got a boyfriend," Kayla murmured.

Taylor got angrier and redder with every second, "I don’t believe it!" he spat, "What about me?! Huh?! What about us?!"

"What about us?" she retaliated, "Don’t make me hack!"

Dragon laughed, setting Taylor on fire, "Stop laughing, moron! This is not your place to pester a Master!"

"Oh, you’d be surprised just how much authority we have," Phantom smirked.

"I don’t care who you are!" he stood up and growled, "That little witch came here for a match and she’ll get one! A five on five! Just you against just me!"

"OK, you got it!"

*^~^**^~^*

"This will be a five on five Pokemon Battle between Challenger Evangelina Hikoboshi and Minor Steel Master Taylor Andiron. This Battle will be for the Platinum Badge and will have no time limits or Pokemon bans. Please step onto the podiums."

Eevy and Taylor stepped onto their rectangular podiums and were raised a good twelve feet, if not more, into the air. They slammed into place with a green light above Eevy and a red light above Taylor. Eevy kept thinking how red brought out the real him; evil. Taylor blew her a kiss with one finger and she made like she was dodging it and then scratched viscously at where he had aimed for. He sneered a bit but straightened out.

"Choose your first battler now!"

Taylor smiled and laughed evilly, "Hey, any of you girls free?" he asked, just to enrage Eevy.

"Get a life, scum bag!" all the girls blared together, "But then again, not on your life anyway!"

He loved it when Eevy got angry because she got stupid. She got vulnerable when she was angry because she never paid attention to her actions, only her rage. Little did he know she’d learned a few things while traveling. Like the greatest battle won is the one not fought and how it doesn’t always take a lot to capture one’s heart. And most of all that friends are always there.

"I choose you, Sovo!"

"There’s a new one on me," Taylor admitted, "I choose you, Magnemite!"

"You!" Sovo spat, "You’re Taylor! You’re the one my master hates! This is gonna be fun!"

"You got a smart mouth," Magnemite laughed, "But are you strong?"

"Stronger than you think."

"Leader Andiron has chosen Magnemite and Challenger Hikoboshi has chosen Espeon! Let the first round begin!"

"OK, Magnemite! Let’s take this quick! Use your Thunder Shock!"

"Sovo, let’s do this! If we win, we win with pride! If we lose, we lose with honor! Go, use Psybeam!"

The Thunder Shock and Psybeam collided, Sovo’s attack ripping through. It pelted Magnemite hard, but the magnet thing seemed unfazed. Eevy swallowed hard, as she had forgotten Psychic attacks aren’t good at all against Steel- type Pokemon.

"Magnemite, Thunder Wave attack, now!"

"Sovo, deflect with a Confuse Ray!"

Thunder Waves shot from above and beside Magnemite. Sovo took a quick shot with his Confuse Ray, turning the attack around. Unfortunately Electric- type attacks don’t really work on Electric- type Pokemon. The attack bounced right off his hard Steel body. The girls booed and the guys hissed.

"Knock it off!" Taylor growled, "Ready to quit, butterfly?"

"Not on your life, scum bag! Sovo, use Psychic attack! Full blown blast!"

"Magnemite, Sonic Boom attack!"

Sovo pulled up a Gym-shaking attack while Magnemite launched his Sonic Boom. In his Psychic rage, Sovo wasn’t even phased by the attack, even though it caught him head on. He tore his attack forward, zipping it along the floor.

"Keep it moving, Sovo!"

"Retaliate with a Zap Cannon!"

Bad move on Taylor’s part. He didn’t know Sovo’s Psychic attack had the ability to change the course of an opposing attack. The attack Magnemite had launched was an Electric- type attack, meaning it wouldn’t effect him, but the after shocks would. Both attacks plowed to a stop in front of Magnemite, flinging him back into a wall and leaving him imbedded there.

"Magnemite is unable to battle and has left the arena! Round one goes to Challenger Hikoboshi! The score is Leader zero and Challenger one! Choose your second battler now!"

"How did you beat Magnemite?!" Taylor flipped, "AH! Magnemite, return! Go, Magneton!"

"Great job, Sovo! You were great! Return, now and go, Novo!"

"Leader Andiron has chosen Magneton and Challenger Hikoboshi has chosen Vaporeon. Let the second round begin!"

"Alright then, Magneton, let’s get her!"

"OK now, Novo, go get ‘em!"

"Magneton, use Tri-Attack now!"

"Novo, use Acid Armor!"

Novo tried to disappear quick enough, but he wasn’t quite fast enough to get away. His body was caught with the Tri-Attack, leaving small sparks of electricity over his mostly invisible form.

"I’ve got a real ‘electric’ personality!" Novo laughed and shook off a little.

"Buh dum bum, ching," Lisle cracked.

"Get in there for a Hydro Pump attack now!"

"Don’t let it get you, Magneton! Use Thunder Shock!"

Magneton shot his electric charge up Novo’s beam of Water, colliding with Novo’s face. Novo stopped and stepped away, becoming completely visible and whimpering from shock.

"Oh, Novo!" Eevy leaned over the bar, "Please be alright!"

"I’m OK," he pawed at his face, "I think."

"Magneton, Lock-On now!"

Novo’s every move was noted carefully to monitor his next move. He tripped, which didn’t help, and Taylor took his shot.

"Magneton! Zap Cannon now!"

"No! Novo, return now!"

Novo was recalled just as Magneton shot his attack. The Zap Cannon flew forward, slamming into Eevy’s podium, causing it to quake at a mile a minute. Dragon hopped over to it and climbed the rail on its corner, making sure to keep his cool in case it did happen to totally fall. He pulled himself up and over the bar, finding her holding the corner bar as it shook. He tripped over and held her close, sending Taylor into an angry hiss. The shaking finally stopped and the electricity fizzed away. Eevy and Dragon stood up and noticed if they stood straight, they weren’t really straight at all. The left side of the podium had sunk about three feet into the Gym floor. Eevy slipped to the right bar and sat down, as if she had tried to stand she would have gone flying. Dragon flailed up next to her and snatched the bar with her laughing at him. She helped him up and he panted down next to her, laying his arm over her shoulders, again setting Taylor off.

Jullian waved his hand in front of his face to blow away the dust, "OK then. Well. Challenger Hikoboshi has recalled Vaporeon. Vaporeon forfeits this round. Round two goes to Leader Andiron. The score is now Leader one and Challenger one! Choose your third round battler now!"

"I choose you!" they called together, both releasing their next Poke’Balls down onto the field.

Getting Things Done

For once in my life I have no comment, other than the fact that the introductions are really corny. But, that's OK, 'cause I like corn. Hope you do too. Now, onward!

*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Many Pokemon~O=-