Chapter One: Zephyr Badge

It didn't seem to be too long a walk to Violet City. Brianne and her Riolu would've had no trouble getting there... if they didn't have to pass right by an entrance to the Ruins of Alph.

Brianne could hardly keep herself from running to the gate and pulling out her digging tools. She wanted so badly to start investigating the ruins, but she promised her grandpa she'd earn at least one badge before allowing herself to get caught up in her own little expeditions.

A heavy sigh escaped her as she gazed at the entrance gate longingly. "See that, Riolu? Our destiny could be waiting on the other side of that gate." She then threw her arms up in the air and let out a loud groan. "Ugh, I can't stand it! It's like the universe is torturing me!" she shouted, then fell to her knees despondently.

Riolu placed a paw on her shoulder and nudged her a bit, letting out a whimper like a little puppy. Brianne looked up at him and smiled.

"It's okay, I'll live." she said. "Come on, let's get ready to face Falkner." She stood up and marched into Violet City with Riolu following close behind.

Brianne stopped at the Pokemon Center to get her Pokemon healed up. Riolu needed a bit of rest after challenging Stantler, and the new addition of the team needed to be in tip-top shape if Brianne was going to start training him. She handed her Pokemon over to the nurse, who used a machine to heal them almost instantly, then she placed Stantler's Pokeball back on her belt and hurried out of the building with Riolu struggling to keep up with her.

They exited the city from the South side, rushing to the outskirts of town so they would have plenty of room to train. Unfortunately, there was another entrance to the ruins close by-- so close that Brianne could almost hear them calling her name.

Shaking her head, she focused on the Training session she had planned. She pulled out a Pokeball, pressing the button to make it grow before throwing it outward. "Okay, Stantler, time to get training!"

The deer-like Pokemon stood up and its hind legs, swinging its front half in the air before stomping on the ground as if to declare its presence to the world.

Riolu couldn't help but jump when he saw the large Pokemon again. He stood behind Brianne and determined to wait quietly for the training session to be over.

"Alright, let's get busy. You see, um..." Brianne trailed off a bit, glancing around before setting her sights on the trunk of a tall, sturdy-looking tree. "That tree! Yeah, you see that tree, Stantler? Hit it with your horns! Hit it hard!" she said.

Stantler glanced over at the tree, then looked back at his Trainer with a glance that seemed to be asking if she knew what she was doing. With a grunt that sounded like "If you say so" in Pokemon language, Stantler lowered his head and began kicking back dirt with his back hooves. After carefully taking aim, he rushed forward and slammed into the tree trunk, causing it to shake.

A few leaves fell from the top of the tree, then all became silent. Brianne stomped her foot anxiously. "Again! I know you can do better!"

Backing up, Stantler took aim once again, then rushed towards the tree, slamming into it a second time.

More leaves fell that time, but it still wasn't enough to satisfy Brianne. She was determined to make Stantler stronger, and she knew he could shake the earth with his might. "Come on, boy! Hit it harder!" she shouted.

Stantler shook a few leaves off of his horns and increased the distance between him and the tree. He swung his head around a bit as if to frighten the trunk into submission, then he reared up before dashing at the tree for a third time.

On Brianne's command, the deer Pokemon repeated the process several more times. He'd increase his distance a bit more each time, then try to push himself to run faster and hit harder. He was doing considerably well, and those horns were beginning to leave marks on the trunk of the tree.

"Okay, one more time, Stantler! As hard as you can!" Brianne thrust her finger at the tree, directing her Pokemon forward.

With a battle cry, Stantler stoond on his hind legs for a moment before taking off, determined to impress his Trainer. He would prove his strength to her, and to this dumb tree, too!

THUNK! The trunk seemed to resonate from the impact, each branch shaking and dropping more leaves.

Brianne had flinched when she saw Stantler hit the tree. It really was quite a powerful blow. "Alright, way to go--!" She halted mid-sentence, noticing that Stantler's horns were caught in the trunk.

"Oh, fudge. Hang on, I'll help you!" She rushed over and wrapped her arms around Stantler's neck, then pulled back with him until his horns were no longer lodged into the wood.

Stantler shook his head a bit and hit his horns against the tree trunk one last time, seemingly scolding the tree for holding him hostage.

Brianne laughed a bit and removed a little treat from her bag. "That was good, Stantler! Here you go." she said, patting his head as he swallowed the little treat whole. With a Pokemon this strong, she was pretty sure she had a good chance against Violet City's gym.

Stantler gained 39 EXP! Stantler leveled up! Stantler is now level 12! Stantler learned Hypnosis!

Satisfied with her team's strength, (for the time being, at least,) Brianne headed straight back to the Violet City Pokemon Center to have Stantler healed for the gym battle ahead.

While Nurse Joy tended to the Pokemon, Brianne considered writing a letter to her grandfather. She thought about it for several minutes, even after the nurse handed Stantler's Pokeball back to her, but it seemed to be a difficult decision. Finally, she determined to wait until after earning a gym badge to inform grandpa of her recent antics. He'd be much happier reading about her victory, anyway... That is, if she won.

Brianne thanked the nurse and headed out, marching straight to the gym. Standing outside the doors, she took a deep breath and prepared herself. She glanced down at Riolu, who was standing right by her side, then she rushed into the gym

"Falkner, I challenge you!" she shouted boldly before quickly realizing that the building seemed empty. She wasn't sure if there was usually anyone standing by on the battlefield, but she certainly didn't see anybody. No Gym Leader, no Trainers-- not even a janitor.

"Erm-- Hello? Falkner?" Brianne stepped further into the gym and waited for a response, Riolu clinging to her pant-leg as she walked.

Bree's voice echoed through the seemingly empty space. The ceiling seemed to reach forever, becoming the very sky itself. It was dark in there as well, only one of the sky lights seemed to be on and functioning, casting dark shadows across the stadium.

As the girl reached a small box on the floor, the loud sound of switches could be heard. Spotlights flared up, illuminating the field before her. The large painted rectangle, bearing the emblem of a pokeball. She was standing at the far edge, in a small painted box seeming to be attached to the drawn field.

Footsteps could then be heard, as a boy with purple hair stepped from the shadows. His bangs were side swept, nearly swallowing half his face altogether. He looked up to Bree, a confident yet charming smile on his face.

"Is that so?" He queried, sizing up his opponent. "I am Falkner, Leader of this Gym. My bird Pokémon are not to be taken lightly. This will be a two-on-two battle. If you understand, them we can begin..." He had been idly twirling a pokeball in his hands, which he now tossed onto the field. It burst open, and in a flash of light revealed a small brown and tan bird, raring for battle!

Pidgey, Male. Level 9.

The moment the spotlights came on, Brianne nearly jumped three feet in the air. She flinched and shielded herself from whatever else might jump out to surprise her, and she remained that way until Falkner appeared on the field.

Quickly regaining her composure, Bree stood up tall and tried to make herself look as confident as she could. When Falkner sent out his first Pokemon, she couldn't help but smile like a giddy schoolgirl. Her first gym battle-- finally!

"Alright then, this is it!" She removed a Pokeball from her belt, pressing the center button to make it grow larger, then she threw it towards the field. "Let's go, Stantler!"

The deer-like Pokemon appeared, swinging his horns about in a threatening manner before kicking back some dust with his front hoof. He focused his attention on Pidgey, though he felt a bit insulted that his Trainer considered the little bird to be a worthy opponent for him.

Bree thrust her hand outward in a dramatic fashion as she shouted. "Start off with a Tackle attack!"

Stantler stomped his hooves a few times, carefully taking aim at the opponent before rushing forward and lowering his head, ready to tackle the Pidgey!

Falkner watched as the deer like Pokémon was summoned to the field. He didn't often see ones like that challenge him, this would be interesting. "Very well, then," Falkner said calmly, watching Stantler's show of power. It was a bit flashy, which often meant a stubborn or poorly trained Pokémon. Falkner was rather cocky, so he assumed the latter naturally.

He raised his hand to the Stantler, watching as it charged to Pidgey. "Pidgey, attempt to counter with Gust!" The Leader ordered. It seemed he was going to test the might of Stantler. Pidgey quickly whipped up a gust of wind, hoping it would blow the foe back. However, Stantler was large which meant more momentum. It was still quite possible that he could fight through it and still hit Pidgey easily.

Falkner was already proving himself a formidable opponent. Brianne knew she would have to make some quick decisions if she wanted to win this fight, but she also needed to be careful, lest she wear her Pokemon out.

"Stantler, keep going! Hit that tree trunk! Er-- I mean, Pidgey!" Bree stammered.

Stantler knew what she meant. He lowered his head a bit more, rushing forward almost like a reindeer pulling a sleigh. He fought against the rush of wind, though he received damage in the process, he was gaining ground. Picking up speed, he continued on his course, heading straight for the bird Pokemon.

Naturally, Pidgey was struck back by the blow from the larger Pokémon. At least he'd managed to slow the attack some, saving him some damage. Falkner watched, nodding slightly. "So be it..." he said, knowing now that Stantler was indeed stronger than Pidgey. 

Still, he wouldn't give up so easily. Not without a fight. "Alright, Pidgey!" Falkner called, gaining the bird's attention. "Sand attack!" The purple haired trainer ordered, pointing to Stantler. The strategy wasn't hard to figure out; how can you beat what you can't hit, after all? 

"Piddgeeey!" The little bird cawed, taking flight. He flew in a tight circle, quickly turning and flapping his wings hard close to the ground. It kicked up a great deal of dirt and sand, sending it flying toward Stantler!

Bree leaped excitedly when she saw Stantler plow into Pidgey, but her little victory was short-lived as Falkner quickly ordered another attack. It seemed the Pidgey was going to be annoying and make it difficult for its opponent to target properly.

Sticking out her bottom lip in a bit of a pout, Brianne clenched her fist and called out to her Pokemon. "Keep your head low, Stantler, and use Astonish!"

Stantler was having difficulty seeing through all the sand in the air, and he shook his head to try and shake some of it from his eyes. He could make out the bird flying around him, and he knew if he wanted to hit it he would have to time his attack just right. His chances were slim, but he would still give it his best shot.

He reared up and then thrust his front hooves out at the Pidgey, letting out a loud cry in the process!

"Tackle, go!" Falkner called, pointing to the deer in a battle pose. He looked like he came straight off a dramatic poster the way he looked. However, that was not the focus here. Pidgey swept up into the air, circling a bit. Swiftly, he swooped down, aiming to tackle the Stantler.

However, when he got close the Stantler cried out suddenly. Pidgey might have been affected, but unfortunately for Stantler, Pidgey was part normal type. This meant that the Ghost type move had no effect on him at all, and he continued, following through with his attack!

Stantler cried out twice-- once during his attempted attack, and a second time when he took a hit from Pidgey. The large deer didn't budge, but he certainly felt when the bird tackled him hard.

Brianne stomped her foot in a frustrated manner. Why didn't that work? Stantler was perfectly positioned and everything! She scratched her head and took a few moments to think on it before the little light-bulb in the back of her head came on. She slapped her forehead in annoyance. "Stupid! Stupid! Ugh, okay-- Stantler, Tackle it right back! Stay focused!" she shouted.

The deer Pokemon kicked back some dirt before charging towards Pidgey once again. He was a bit irritated that his last attack hadn't hit, but his Trainer's anxiety seemed to be fueling such emotions. He was determined to hit the opponent this time-- and hit it hard.

Pidgey attempted to swoop down under the tall deer, but was sent tumbling instead. "Tsk..." Falkner hissed a bit through his teeth. He knew Pidgey didn't have enough time to pull up though, so he didn't blame the bird for failing to dodge the attack. Pidgey quickly got back to his feet, staggering a bit before gaining his balance once more.

The bird cawed, taking to the air again as it announced to its trainer that it was ready for his next command. Falkner nodded, pointing to the enraged Stantler. "Alright, tackle again!" The bird trainer ordered, silenlty knowing that the large creature was beginning to wear down his precious Pidgey.

Pidgey cawed again, circling once more. Abruptly, he dove in to pick up speed. He swooped, pulling up last second in an attempt to tackle Stantler!

Seeing the attack make contact with the small bird was a satisfying feeling, but Bree knew her triumph would be short-lived if she didn't stay on guard. Sure enough, Falkner sent his Pidgey forward once again, coming close for another Tackle.

Brianne really didn't like the little bird's endurance. She wished she could move on to the next Pokemon and simply finish with Pidgey already, but she knew that there were certain rules when it came to battling. She'd just have to figure out the quickest way to end things without losing. Her mind wandered back to when she first caught Stantler, and the risky move that she had her Riolu pull off in order to weaken the large deer Pokemon...

Risky, indeed. But Bree was willing to take such risks, though she knew it might backfire, she trusted her Pokemon to have the strength necessary to pull it off. With all these thoughts racing through her mind so fast, she quickly shouted out her orders. "Stantler, meet him halfway-- Tackle him back when he's close enough!"

The deer might have questioned his Trainer's orders, had he not been so intent on proving to Pidgey that he was the stronger Pokemon here. He swung his head a bit in another intimidating show before he charged forward, waiting for the precise moment when he would collide with the little bird. He knew this would hurt, but it was all hinged on the hope that it would hurt Pidgey more...

Falkner's fist clenched a bit when he saw the large deer heading for his Pidgey. The moment was dramatic, but it was too late to call off the attack. It was a battle of momentum now; Stantler's mass versus Pidgey's speed. He flinched only a bit as the two collided, feet firmly planted and every muscle tensed as Pidgey fell to the ground in a cloud of dust.


Falkner held his ground for a few moments as the dust settled. His bird Pokemon lay there, defeated by Stantler. He weakly looked over to Falkner apologetically before falling unconscious. Sighing, Falkner pulled out the pokeball and returned the small bird. "That's alright, Pidgey...rest well now," he said, replacing the ball with the second at his belt.

"Your turn, Pidgeotto!" The purple haired boy called, tossing the ball into the air. It popped open, once again the light forming into the shape of a bird. However, this one was much larger than the Pidgey, and certainly more powerful. The bird cawed, announcing its presence in the battle as he opened his wingspan to look larger and more intimidating.

Stantler gained 9 EXP. Stantler leveled up! Stantler is now level 13. Stantler learned Stomp!

Pidgeotto, male. Level 13.

Seeing the Pidgey finally fall was an exciting feeling, and Bree could hardly contain her satisfaction. She giggled and jumped up and down a bit before Pidgeotto entered the battlefield. Brianne was immediately silenced as she looked over the larger bird.

Now this would be a real challenge. She knew this one would give her trouble, but that didn't frighten her in the least bit. It seemed Stantler still had some fight in him, and though she had the option to switch to Riolu, she decided to hold off for now.

"Okay Stantler, Tackle it!" she shouted.

Stantler was a bit dizzy from that last hit, but he did his best to shake it off before rushing forward to attack the new foe.

((Did Stantler gain any experience after defeating Pidgey, or does that come later?))

((Yeah, I just didn't get to it yet, I usually post then edit, then edit it in, you just moved quicker than me this time because I was semi distracted lol))

Falkner was confident in his larger bird's capabilities. Still, he knew he had to be careful, Stantler could still prove to cause some damage. They were large creatures, after all. "Quick, to the sky Pidgeotto!" Falkner commanded, to which the bird followed. He quickly flapped his wings, narrowly dodging Stantler's antlers.

He witheld his excitemend, eyes watching the grace of his bird. Good... he thought silently, shifting his weight to point back at the deer. "Now quick attack!" The leader commanded strongly. The bird swooped down, hovering low to the ground as he extended his feet to the floor, using them to rush forward faster, aiming for the foe.

((Understandable. Thanks. c:))

Pidgeotto moved much faster than Pidgey did, but its movements were still every bit as graceful. Stantler barely had the chance to take in the bird's speed before he felt Pidgeotto hit against him with great force. The deer stammered, trying so desperately to keep upright, but he stumbled to the floor. He remained still for a few moments, panting and taking a moment to rest.

Brianne knew this was a terrible situation to be in. It didn't look like Stantler was going to last any longer. Another hit like that, and he'd be down for the count. She hesitantly reached for his Pokeball and prepared to call him back.

But the deer Pokemon spotted the shiny ball out of the corner of his eyes, then struggled to rise back to his feet. It took him several tries, tripping over himself a bit before he was finally able to rise back up. He stood as tall as he could, once again swinging his horns about as best as he could without toppling over.

Bree stared, mouth hanging wide open as she watched her Pokemon take his last stand. "B-but you... Stantler, d-do you want to keep fighting?" she asked, bewildered.

Stantler let out a grunt and glanced back at his Trainer, determined to prove his strength.

Taking a deep breath, Bree figured it best to let the Pokemon do as it pleased. She would let it try, at least for one more hit, before she called him back. "Alright then. One more time..." She carefully worked up her confidence in the deer Pokemon before shouting out to him. "Use Stomp!"

Stantler kicked back his front hooves a few times, gathering all his strength before rushing at the bird again, this time rearing back and carefully aiming his hooves at Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto, no!" Falkner called, the bird's eyes widening as it saw the large beast rear up, those heavy hooves coming down on him suddenly. He hit the ground hard, grimacing as he stood back up. Falkner grumbled a bit, looking at the weakened deer. Dang Stantler...such a sturdy breed... The boy thought, looking back to his Pokemon who'd taken to the air again. He clearly didn't want to take the risk of another hit like that.

"Alright, Pidgeotto-" Falkner started, pointing to Stantler. "Use your Gust!" The trainer ordered. His partner cawed, flapping his wings hard to halt mid-air, facing the deer Pokemon. He began to widen his span, flapping hard as he whipped up a powerful Gust, the wind blowing at Stantler!

Brianne felt rather triumphant when Stantler's attack landed. She let out a shout and clenched her fists excitedly, feeling rather confident. "Way to go, Stantler!"

As Pidgeotto stirred up another windstorm, Bree felt sure that her Pokemon would be able to charge through it, just as he had earlier. He'd already proven his strength, and it shouldn't be too much harder than Pidgey's Gust, right?

"Stantler, use Tackle again! Charge!" She thrusted her finger outward dramatically, like it was cool. (Though it was rather obvious she was making a fool of herself.)

The deer Pokemon grunted in response, then slowly began running towards Pidgeotto. Then the Gust hit, pushing back and causing damage as he tried to push through it. He just barely managed to gain a foot of ground before his legs gave out beneath him. Stantler cried out as he was blown back and then fell to the floor.

Bree felt her confidence shatter, every ounce of triumph that she'd felt moments ago was now gone. She should've realized how worn out Stantler was, and now he'd pushed himself too hard due to her commands. She bit her tongue and removed his Pokeball, calling him back. She held it in her hand and whispered softly to it, "I'm sorry, Stantler. I didn't mean to push you so much. You did awesome."

Turning her attention back to Falkner and Pidgeotto, Brianne then sent forth the only remaining member of her team. "Okay, get on out there, Riolu!" she said.

The blue and black Pokemon peered out from behind his Trainer, staring at the Flying type on the battlefield. Riolu hated facing birds of any kind... Their beaks and powerful attacks from their wings always hurt terribly.

"Riolu," Bree spoke in a scolding tone. "Let's go!"

Swallowing hard, Riolu nodded and stepped onto the field. He focused on his opponent, setting his mind on the task of defeating the Flying type. He would win this and win it well, or at least go down trying his best.

"Tsk," Falkner said, shaking his head. It had been clear that the girl was pushing her Stantler too hard. Still, she wasn't as bad as some he'd seen. "Good job, Pidgeotto," The bird trainer encouraged, the Large bird fluttering to his trainer's side. Falkner stroked the bird's head once or twice, waiting for Bree's next move.

Upon seeing the small blue fighting type step out on the field, a smirk met the Leader's face. Not only was Riolu at a type disadvantage, but he was also a baby Pokemon. It would be a struggle at best for the little Riolu. Falkner gave a hearty pat to Pidgeotto, who flew back onto the field.

"Alright Pidgeotto, he's a smaller target, but if we land a hit we're guaranteed big damage!" Falkner announced confidently. He pointed to their new enemy, calmly ordering his proud bird forward. "Go, Gust!"

"Geoooo-toh!" Pidgeotto cawed, swiftly taking to the air. He circled around once, before shifting to face his belly to Riolu. Quickly, he began to flap his wings powerfully. They kicked up the now dangerous wind that had previously knocked out Stantler, aiming the gust of wind at tiny Riolu!

The battle seemingly started the moment Riolu set his sights on his opponent. Pidgeotto was given the exact command that Bree had expected, but she wasn't one to back down for any reason.

"Brace yourself, Riolu! This is going to be a bumpy ride!" she told him.

Riolu knew exactly what she meant. They were going to push through this all the way to the end, no matter how bitter it might be. He crouched down low and covered his face with his arms, still being pushed back a good distance by the powerful Gust. He could feel the wind whipping him all around, almost like being pounded from all sides.

Brianne knew she was in a real pickle this time. No matter how she tried to think of a decent way to knock out Pidgeotto, she came to the conclusion that he was going to be extremely difficult to hit while in the air. It seemed her usual "hit-it-until-it's-fainted" strategy would be a real flop this time.

Time for a new plan...

"Alright, Riolu," she said, taking a deep breath before spitting out her commands. "Use Foresight!" As much as she hated using moves that didn't instantly do damage, she had to hope that this one would help her cause.

The Fighting type was quick to comply, though he knew that his Trainer didn't often change tactics unless she had no other choice. Perhaps she was scared this time..? No, that couldn't be. Riolu would give her plenty of reason to believe in his power!

He focused on Pidgeotto, his eyes seemingly sparking as he took careful aim at his opponent. The bird's swift movements seemed to slow a bit, and his wings which used to be a blur were now crystal clear. This would make it easier to hit the Pidgeotto, though Riolu would still need to make it count.

Falkner grit his teeth, watching as Riolu's eyes grew sharp. There was no doubt in his mind that if something wasn't done, the next move would hit Pidgeotto. He didn't want that, as ridiculous as it might sound. After all, Pidgeotto was his father's prized bird Pokemon. Falkner would do anything in his power to keep him from being injured.

"Pidgeotto, use sand attack now!" The boy ordered, pointing to the small blue creature which had managed to avoid most of the bird's gust.

"D'geooo!" The bird cried, circling overhead a moment. He quickly dove in, pulling up a bit in front of Riolu, before grazing his feet and wings against the dirt. He pounded his wings, sending it flying at Riolu in attempt to lower his accuracy again.

Brianne was still a little miffed at having to resort to using a defensive-type move, but her attitude quickly changed when she heard Falkner call out for his Pidgeotto to erase the work that Riolu just did. She didn't want that to happen-- it would render that move a complete waste, and she hated it enough as it was.

"Riolu, get down! Shield your eyes!" she shouted.

The Fighting type did as he was told, using his arms to hide his face from the foe as much as possible. He could still feel the sand whipping at him, and it still stung, but he seemed to succeed in keeping the tiny pebbles from deterring his vision.

A quick sigh escaped Bree before she decided to take action once more. "Alright, use Crunch! Do it quick!"

Riolu stood up and rushed at the bird Pokemon, shaking loose sand off his body as he moved. He then leaped upward, opening his jaw wide in hopes of clamping down on Pidgeotto somewhere. Chances were the Flying type would easily dodge by diving in one direction or the other, but Bree was willing to take that chance to get a powerful hit in.

The bird and Falkner both hadn't expected the twist from the tiny Riolu. As a result, the blue Pokemon managed to latch onto Pidgeotto's wing, sinking his teeth in hard. The bird screeched out in pain! Critical hit!

"Pidgeotto, no!" Falkner cried out suddenly, breaking his usually cool demeanor. It was very unlike him, but the fact that Pidgeotto was in such pain was taking a toll on him as well. "Quick, use gust to try getting it off your wing!" He ordered, hoping it wouldn't cause more damage than good. Pidgeotto was quick to comply, grimacing as he fought hard, pounding his wings with the little blue thing on them, trying to shake it off!

Pumping her fist excitedly, Brianne let out a hissing "Yes!" as she watched Riolu hit the bird right where it hurts.

However, the last thing she'd expected was for the foe to attempt a Flying type attack while in such a predicament. This could cause a lot of trouble for Riolu, as he had no way of dodging while latched onto Pidgeotto's wing. There was the chance that he would only cause more damage as the bird beat its magnificent wings so hard, but it might end up hurting the little Fighting type even more.

Well, luck favors the bold. Bree clenched her teeth tight as she steeled herself for what she was about to say. "Riolu, hang on tight! Don't let go, alright?" she shouted.

Riolu let out a muffled growl, still trying to sink his teeth deeper into Pidgeotto's wing. But when the bird began flapping, harder and faster a little bit at a time, the tiny blue Pokemon quickly realized that this was a tall order to fill. The world was moving so fast! His body whipped about so furiously, it seemed to give him whiplash. But that didn't bother him near as much as the actual attack did, sending powerful gusts of wind all around him.

The Fighting type finally could take no more of this, and he opened up his jaw and fell back to the floor of the gym. He managed to land upright, but his breathing was coming in deep gasps. That took a lot out of him, even if it hurt Pidgeotto in the process.

It was uncommon for Brianne to regret her decisions, but this time she couldn't help feeling terribly guilty for causing Riolu so much pain. "Hey buddy, are you okay?"

"R-R-R-Riiio!" The Fighting type let out a growl with his battle cry, ready to continue the fight despite his pain.