We were in Bukendo City. I knew how I was gonna fight for the Platinum Badge. There was a new gym leader named Pete.
     "So, I wonder what the new leader uses for his Pokemon," I muttered.
     "Pete uses Pokemon with an exception," Willis said. "They can dance. They look weird." As Lizzie, Willis, Pikachu and I walked down the street, I spotted the gym.
     "Let's look," Lizzie said. We ran to the gym and looked through the windows. I almost gasped. A trainer was using his Raichu against Pete's Machop. Machop was wearing shiny bellbottoms. He used a Seismic Toss on Raichu and began dancing.
     "Wow..." Willis murmured.
     I saw when Machop was beaten, Pete sent out Hypno. Hypno was wearing his hypnosis medal around his neck instead of his wrist. It was also wearing baggy jeans and a ski cap. It made him look like a street thug.
     I couldn't hear them giving out orders, but I saw Hypno twirl its hips and Raichu was lifted high into the air and then Raichu was slammed facefirst into the ground. The match was over quickly. I saw the trainer offer to shake hands with Pete. Pete looked like he was gonna shake his hand, but then he pulled it back and wiped his hair before saying something. I couldn't make out what he said though. However, I knew this Pete was a tough guy.

We all went to the Pokemon Center for a hot meal since it was about a day since we last eaten. "I'll go to the grocery store and stock up on some food we can keep in our backpacks, guys," Willis said.
     We nodded and healed our Pokemon. I then sat down next to Lizzie on a bench. "That Pete dude is pretty tough," Lizzie said. "You should have some practice battles before you fight him."
     "Well, I need to get my Pokemon warmed up," I said. "I guess a battle won't hurt."
     A girl's ears perked up all of a sudden. She turned to face me. "A Pokemon battle?! I'll challenge you!"
     I stood up. "Cool. Who are you?"
     "My name is Viscandra." (VIS - awn -- dra.)
     Lizzie and I introduced ourselves. At the same time, Nurse Joy called us over. All 3 of us got our Pokeballs. "Time for a good battle."

We waited for Willis to return before we went to the park. He had brought some canned soups and bags of extra butter popcorn. "I'll referee the match," Willis said. He cleared his throat. "Okay. The following contest is a 1 on 1 Pokemon battle. Introducing first, Woody's Scyther!"
     Some kids had quit a kickball game and sat down to watch us. Some cheered and some booed. Some clapped and some were silent.
     "And in the other corner is Viscandra's Meowth." Viscandra got the same reaction.
     "Please call me Vissy," she said.
     The match began very quickly. Meowth jumped up at Scyther. Scyther twisted around and nailed the perfect Cut attack. Meowth was nailed instantly and fell down. He rolled over.
     Scyther flew up and came down with Quick Attack. This attack knocked Meowth dizzy. Meowth stumbled around like he was drunk. Scyther connected with Meowth in midair and flew up high. Scyther ended the match SUPER quickly with a Seismic Toss. Scyther had flew up 30 feet and then flipped in the air and sped down to the grown, slamming Meowth down.
     "Whoah. That was quick," said Willis. "Erm -- and your winners are Woody and Scyther."
     I smiled. "That must be a record time for me. 35 seconds."
     "You -- you cheated," Vissy said. She ran up and pushed me. I fell down and almost tripped but regained my balance. I walked back up to her angrily. This time she slapped me.
     "Stop doing that!" Lizzie said. She stuck up for me.
     "Don't be a whore," Vissy said. She pushed Lizzie to the ground and spit on me.
     "Stop!" I ordered.
     "You cheated!" she insisted. "I have NEVER lost a match that fast." She kicked me in the shins.
     I balled my hand into a fist and hauled back. Vissy stuck her tongue out. "You can't hit a girl."
     "Who was it that said men and women should be equal?" I asked. I knocked her lights out. I wasn't really glad about hitting a girl, but she was getting on my nerves. Plus, she started it. Hah hah!
     "Anyone else wanna challenge me?" I asked.
     A boy ran up. "How about my Murkrow?"
     Scyther and Murkrow faced off. Scyther used Poison Sting and then a Slash attack. That was even quicker! About 12 seconds.
     "And you guys said I needed help before I challenged the gym leader?" I laughed.

Julius and Kio were sitting in a TR HQ. They both lied back and ate popcorn out of a bowl. "When should we strike next?" Kio asked.
     "We hafta wait a while..." Julius said. "Besides, I don't wanna leave quickly because for once, this is a comfy Rocket HQ. We have a microwave, a stove, a big screen TV, two separate beds, comfy couches, and rugs instead of dirty hardwood floors. For once, this is a good hideout. 'The Man' has treated us a tiny bit better ever since we got rid of that traitor, Kira."
     Kio shrugged. "But we didn't mean to kill her. We just wanted to mess with her gym. The police said the crime wasn't bad enough for arrest because it was accidental."
     "So," Julius said. "Now no one will diss Team Rocket because they will all think we're murderers."
     "You want people to think that?" Kio demanded.
     "If it means respect, yes," Julius said. "And we owe my brother and his friends. So just for today and today ONLY, we are gonna help him with something."
     "Like what?" Kio asked.
     "You are nosy," Julius muttered. "Anyway ... we're gonna help him get the Platinum Badge. I knew Pete since I was a kindergartner. He used to be so biased. Now he says that he's 'seen the light' and I know that isn't true. Today, Kio, we are gonna kick his a--."

"Ssssss," an Ekans hissed. This was my eleventh battle and I was using my Noctowl against an Ekans. Noctowl used Psybeam. After a tough match. The toughest one of the night -- 3 minutes and 2 seconds -- Noctowl won.
     "Scyther, Noctowl and Pikachu are the only 3 Pokemon you used and they cleaned house," Willis said.
     "I have good Pokemon, too," Lizzie said. "Charmander, Sudowoodo, Butterfree and Marill. Maybe one day I'll be some sort of gym leader."
    
I walked up to the gym doors. I didn't even bother to think up a strategy and I barged through. Pete turned around, startled. He gave me a sly smile. "This is the best they could give me? Ha. I'll take you on little girl." He looked at Lizzie.
     "Not m--," Lizzie started.
     I clamped a hand over her mouth. "Yeah. She will challenge you. She wants a 2 on 2 match, sir."
     Lizzie turned and looked at me with wide eyes.
     "For the badge?" Pete asked.
     "Why not?" I said. I pushed Lizzie forward. Lizzie looked back at me and gave me a sharp glare before walking to the gym floor.
     We sat down on the bench. Willis leaned near me. "What were you doing putting Lizzie up there?"
     "Well," I started. "Lizzie and I are pretty much evenly matched in Pokemon Training. We both use the same training techniques and battles. We have pretty much the same type of Pokemon and we know each other very well. So I figure, if Lizzie can beat Pete, then so can I because I've beaten Lizzie before and she's my best friend. Well, besides you and JT of course because we're all best friends but you know what I mean."
     "That's pretty smart," Willis said.
     "Ha," I laughed. "You're actually surprised?"
     "I choose you, Machop!" Pete yelled. He threw a pokeball and the dancing Machop with bellbottoms hopped out of the Pokeball in white light.
     Lizzie hurled a Pokeball into the air. "Come on out, Butterfree!" Lizzie cried. The pink butterfly appeared in a white light and Machop looked up.
     "Machop, use a Shaky Jab," Pete ordered. Machop did the "Cabbage Patch" with his hands and then punched Butterfree. Butterfree was barely affected and then used a Tackle which knocked Machop to his knees. Butterfree then aimed for a Psybeam, but Machop did a somersault right over Butterfree's head.
     "Turn around, Butterfree. Don't let Machop get you off guard!" Willis encouraged Lizzie's Pokemon.
     Butterfree turned around -- right into a kick my Machop. Butterfree fell to the ground. It wasn't knocked out, but the kick had knocked the wind out of it.
     "Butterfree, look out!" Lizzie cried. Machop swung its hips and then prepared to jump onto Butterfree leg first.
     Butterfree heard Lizzie and rolled Lizzie leaving Machop to fall right on his rear end. Butterfree then used a Psybeam. It smacked Machop and sent it backwards into a wall.
     "Machop, Dance Drop-kick!" Pete ordered. Machop patted his bellbottoms and then did the twist! This distracted Butterfree enough so Machop could jump up and kick Butterfree hard.
     Butterfree dropped down and this time she was out. Lizzie returned Butterfree without a word and then sent out Marill. Obviously since Lizzie didn't want badges, she wasn't really into the match. Marill jumped onto Machop's face and spun around. The attack flipped Machop onto his back. Marill turned around and used a Bubble.
     "Machop, Shoulder Roll into a Strut Kick!" Pete ordered. Machop did a somersault and then patted his hip before kicking Marill high into the air.
     "Marill, come down with a Water Gun!" Lizzie commanded. A rush of freezing cold water nailed Machop. He fell to the ground in a heap.
     "Return," Pete said. Machop was recalled into his Pokeball. Pete drew another ball from his belt loop and heaved it through the air. A Mr. Mime emerged. It had on tap shoes and carried a dance cane. "Mr. Mime, use Psywave," Pete said. Mr. Mime rose his cane and twirled it. A purple beam of light came out and glided at Marill. Marill used a Water Gun on the gym floor and rose into the air. Mr. Mime didn't take very well to it. He threw the cane at Marill like a horseshoe. Marill was knocked out of the air.
     "Marill, get up!" Lizzie cried. "Use a Headbutt attack!"
     Marill shook off the pain and jumped at Mr. Mime, head first. Mr. Mime staggered back and fell on his spine. Marill then used a Bubblebeam. Mr. Mime turned around to see the attack but rose his cane.
     He swung at the rock - hard bubbles. They burst and then through the foam, a white beam of energy shot through and hit Marill. Marill was knocked out instantly.
     Pete smiled. "Good match. You had me beat." He offered a hand shake.
     Lizzie reached out to shake his hand. Pete pulled his hand back and smoothed back his hair. "Sike!"
     Lizzie gave him an irritated look and then pulled Willis, Pikachu and I out of the gym.

We sat at a table in the local Taco Kingdom. Lizzie munched down on a burrito. I looked down at my taco, but didn't really eat. I was kind of excited.
     Willis swallowed a mouth full of taco beef and turned to me. "What's up?"
     "Pete," I said. "That guy is a real jerk. What he did to Lizzie. He didn't shake her hand. That was a really rude thing to do."
     Lizzie wiped guacamole from the burrito off of her mouth with a napkin. "Well, some peeps are just jerks. What are you gonna do about it, huh?"
     I smiled. "Doesn't matter. If Lizzie came seconds away from beating Pete, then I know I can beat him anytime."
     "Don't be so sure," Willis said. "Pete is tough. You should think of a strategy. The gym leaders... this is where it starts getting tough, Woody. This is where you hafta put your all into your matches and make sure you do your VERY best. It's time to get serious because the matches and battles aren't gonna be easy anymore."
     I looked at Willis. I knew he was right, but I had an impressive 2 loss, 32 win record. I knew it was time to get real, like Willis said. I just went back to my taco. Part of it had gotten cold because I waited too long to eat it. "Okay," I muttered.
   
As we went to sleep, Willis's words kept flashing through my head. "It's time to get serious because the matches and battles aren't gonna be serious anymore. Pete is tough. Think of a strategy. Put it all into your matches and make sure you do your VERY best."
     I opened my eyes and looked over at Willis. Willis was sleeping in a bed on the other side of the room and Lizzie sat on the bunk above me. "I hate it when he's right," I muttered and then put the pillow over my face.

Julius and Kio were outside of the hotel. Julius smiled. "If this works, then we should be able to plant a bomb under the ground and that will distract Pete in his match with Woody when he competes for the Platinum Badge tomorrow."
     "How are we gonna time it for when Woody is battling?" Kio asked. "For all we know, he might have his match at noon and the bomb will go off at 10:00."
     "If I know my brother, he will be there as soon as the gym opens," Julius said. "11:30 in the morning. So I'l set the bomb to go off in seven hours..."
     "You'd better know what you're doing," Kio said as he dug the hole deeper. When the hole next to the gym was big enough, Julius stuck the time bomb right in. Kio put some dirt on top and covered it in grass to make it realistic. They then put their equipment back into a sack and jumped into their new Sneasel balloon. Kio untied it while Julius was in and then hopped into the basket as the balloon flew through the night.

I opened the doors of the gym. It had opened early today. 11:00 AM. Pete turned to me. "Who the heck are you?" He looked at me, pulling off his sunglasses. "Oh. I see, you're Lizzie's friend. The gimmie little girl who fought me yesterday. Hah! And lost."
     "Well, I won't be the same way," I assured him. "I am gonna kick your snobby little butt all over this gym!"
     "Is that so?" he said with a chuckle. "Well. Let's have a warm-up match. Let's say... my Golduck against one of your Pokemon?"
     "You're on," I said. I turned to Pikachu. "Ready, Pikachu?"
     "Pikachu," Pikachu said. (You bet I am.)
     Golduck wore black street pants and turned to Pikachu. Pikachu stared down Golduck. "Pikachu, Thundershock!" I ordered. Pikachu sent off a charge of electricity. It smacked Golduck. Golduck shook as he cradled under the power of Thundershock.
     "Yes!" Willis yelled. "This should be over in seconds."
     Golduck balled his webbed hands into fists and rose them in the air. The electricity turned into tiny sparks of static and Golduck appeared to be fine. "That's okay. Hit him with a Quick Attack," I said.
     Pikachu jumped at Golduck at an amazing speed. Golduck grabbed Pikachu and flung him through the air. Pikachu was about to crash right into a wall, but landed with his feet and then jumped off of the wall and curled into a ball for a real Quick Attack. Golduck was smashed in the chest and fell down.
     "Golduck, Confusion," Pete ordered. Golduck glowed an eerie blue color and rose a hand. Pikachu was surrounded by pink light and lifted high into the hair.
     "Break out of it with Light Screen!" I commanded. Pikachu's cheeks glowed a pale yellow color and Golduck was forced to break the hold. Pikachu fell down on all fours and stared at Golduck with an angry look.
     "Use Water Gun!" Pete yelled. Golduck shot a blast of water at Pikachu.
     "Agility!" I commanded. Pikachu dodged every shot of water that Golduck used. Finally, Pikachu was hit with a Water Gun and he fell down.
     Lizzie and Willis watched. Pete had beads of sweat running down his cheek. Pikachu was back on his feet and he used Thunderbolt. The electricity surged through Golduck. Golduck cried out and was now down to one knee. "Come on, Pikachu. Just a little harder," I said. Pikachu balled his tiny hands into fists and let out more electricity. Golduck was screaming in pain. Pete glared at Golduck.
     "Get out of it, Golduck! It's just a tiny Pikachu!"
     Golduck tried to get back up to both feet, but was pushed back down by the electricity and was know on both knees. Golduck opened his mouth and growled. Pikachu nearly wore itself out with the Thunderbolt. It stopped the surge attack and then jumped on Golduck's head. I wasn't surprised. Vintage Pikachu started biting Golduck on the head. He then jumped up to use another Thunderbolt, but this time, Golduck used Hyper Beam. The golden beam hit Pikachu between the eyes and both Pokemon fell to the ground. Both of them were knocked out. Who was the winner?




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