*Knock Knock* “Housekeeping!” A voice yelled out past the door, jarring Kevin awake with an intense force. A feeling of dread washed over him as he looked to his alarm clock, reading 12 PM. “Come back later, I’m just getting ready” he lied to the person outside his door. He frantically got ready for the day, brushing, showering, and eating breakfast as fast as humanly possible. He got his two pokemon up, who unbeknownst to him just had the night of their lives last night, and told them to get ready also. After quickly packing his things he was out of the door in a flash.


        He arrived at the front door of the gym about 10 minutes later. He looked at the plaque showing a list the people who have conquered this gym. Decorated with every winner on a different leaf, as this is a grass type gym. He recognized a few names on the display, but one stood out to him. “Sami..” he said under his breath, the upstart that was being a dick to him yesterday already won today. Even though it made Kev angry, he was determined more than ever to win this and get onto the next section.


        Kevin opened the doors to the Arena and in the middle of the battlefield stood the Gym Leader himself, Seth. The man who took across the room from Kev was toned. He had a nice tan he apparently liked to show off, wearing a unbuttoned hawaiian shirt and tan, loose fitting cargo shorts. Seth bellowed across the stage, “You must be here to challenge me, young trainer? Well, come right on up!” Kevin complied, taken aback on how big the room is. As he stepped up to the battlefield, Seth asked, “So, young trainer, what is your name?”


        “Kevin.” Kev managed to spit out after a few seconds. 


        “So, Kevin,” Seth said, “You here to challenge me?” Kev nodded. “Well, I guess since you’ve gotten this far, you know how to battle, but this is the first gym, so you need to know the basics of a gym battle in this region.” Seth began to explain, “The gyms here are based on skill and get harder as you progress throughout the region, this will probably be the easiest gym you encounter on your journey, as long as you have the type advantages. I have two pokemon at my disposal, that will be revealed to you in battle.” He paused, “So, that about it, you ready to battle?”


        “You bet I am” Kev replied.


        Seth laughed, “Good on you kid, remember I can’t take it easy on you, this is for real.”


        Kevin debated on which pokemon to start first, both are strong against grass, but Monferno is more experienced. He decided to wait until he knew which pokemon Seth was going to throw out until he made his final decision.


As both men walked to their respective ends Kevin took in the view of the arena, trees, plants and rocks strewn about, looking like a nice opening in a forest. At least I’m somewhat familiar these surroundings, maybe I can use them to my advantage, he thought to himself as he mentally prepared himself.
        
They stood across the battlefield, Seth and Kev, both with two Pokeballs in their hands ready to throw. “You ready Kevin!” The gym leader yelled across the room. “Ready for you to lose, yea!” said Kev, trying to get a little advantage before the fighting started. “Well, let's see if you can beat this! GO LUDICOLO!” He threw the pokeball straight up in the air, a red flash of light popped out and down came the giant duel grass and water type, obviously picked to counter fire-types. 


Kev swore under his breath, he couldn’t start with Monferno now, but luckily he had someone who had an advantage in his team. “Good pick, but not good enough Seth.” Kev yelled back. “GO NIDORINO” He yelled summoning the pokemon from his ball.


“Huh, a type advantage in your favor, not like I haven't dealt with this before. Use energy ball Ludicolo!” Seth yelled out to his pokemon. “LUDI...COLO!” The pokemon yelled as he shot a giant ball at Nidorino.


Calling back to the battle he had with Nidorino to capture him he said, “Use your speed, Nidorino, you need to get under him and poison him” Understanding this, Nidorino ran back and forth trying to tire the giant out, but to no avail, it seemed like he had the stamina of a legend. Thinking he had an opening, Nido ran right towards Ludicolo, point shining and ready to poison. As he approached his opponent, Ludicolo turned around and kicked Nidorino right in the head, turning it with immense force. The kick was enough to send Nido smashing right into the nearest tree, practically disintegrating the spot where he hit. The trunk started to fall towards Ludicolo. 


Frantically, Seth yelled, “Grab it Ludicolo! Use it as a weapon!” As the tree was crashing down upon him, he positioned himself to get it. Nidorino was dazed, but he knew that if Ludicolo was able to get that tree, it was all over for not only him, but Monferno too. He sprinted behind Ludicolo and started to charge at the back of the pokemon’s leg. Tip shining once again, Nidorino knew it was now or never and jumped high, using poison point. Nido was able to pierce himself into the flesh of Ludicolo, injecting him with poison. Taken by surprise the Pokemon frantically shook his leg, and being much heavier than his foe he was able to easily push him off. Taking his eyes off the battlefield he didn’t realize that the tree was still falling towards him until it was too late. “LUDI!!” he yelled before the tree knocked him right on the top of his egg-shaped body. Down with a crash the pokemon and the tree went, everyone waiting in suspense to see if the first of two pokemon were vanquished from battle. Nido, however took initiative and climbed on top of the nearest tree, not only hiding but getting a better view of things. 


The smoke cleared and slowly, from the dust appeared Ludicolo, balancing himself to get a better position on his feet. Kevin yelled, “Nidorino use Double Kick!” Nido complied and jumped down from the tree, shooting his feet out and smashing into Ludicolo knocking the giant off his feet. Cocky he jumped down from the head of his opponent and near right in front of a rock. He taunted the Ludicolo, taking his paw and making a jerking motion saying, “Suck this, bitch!” and then turned his rear to him, presenting it and shaking it. Not only did this make his opponent angry, Kevin heard him loud and clear. Shocked, but with a new dose of confidence, Kevin yelled at Nido as the angry Pokemon was charging, “NIDORINO! JUMP!” And to no one’s surprise he did just that and jumped out of the way, sending the Ludicolo charging and smashing right through the rock, demolishing it, but knocking himself right out in the process.


“Ludicolo is knocked out, take out your next Pokemon!” The referee said to the combatants. Nidorino returned to his side pretty confident in his skills. He got ready to face his next challenge and Kev was going to let him, confident in the Pokemon’s skills also, “Good Job Nido, one down, one to go!” He said trying to hype up his friend.


“Good job there Kevin,” Seth said to him, “But that advantage of your’s isn't going to last for long, I’m about to hit you with my finishing move kid! GO VICTREEBEL!” As he summoned his last pokemon, Nidorino was ready to go and started to charge at him. Dodging every attack ready to smash right into him with his horn. Nidorino was successful, but at a price, as he injected his horn into the opponent, vines grabbed him at the sides, smashing him side to side, hitting Nido off trees, rocks, and the floor indiscriminately. After what felt like an eternity of pain to Nido, he was finally thrown across the field near Kev. Nearing the point of blacking out Kev had to sub him out, not wanting any more damage to happen to his pokemon. “Good effort Nidorino, you’ve done your job well.” He said returning him to his pokeball. “I still have him Seth, just so know i'll beat you with both pokemon still up! GO MONFERNO!” The fire monkey materialized from the pokeball ready to fight. “Nidorino finished up the first guy, defeat this one and we win.” Kev said to his hyped up pokemon.


        Monferno charged around the stage, lighting everything in the arena ablaze. Trees erupted in flames. The grass around them became scorched and Monferno was in his element. The biggest advantage the leader has against him right now was his experience, so to get rid of him through a firewall was option he took to get rid of that.


        Not being able to see anything Seth started to yell at his pokemon to use leaf storm to try and fan out the fire, but the flames raged so hot and so loud Victreebel was not able to hear his trainer, effectively crippling the already at a disadvantage pokemon. It wasn’t over however, as the pure experience difference between the two was enough to balance some of the advantage out. Victreebel had to act quickly though, and tried the same thing he did to Nidorino, and grabbed him with his vines. Wrapped at the ankles, Monferno was helpless as he was swung around the air. 


        Kev was in shock, he didn’t know what to do in this situation, in just a few seconds the battlefield went from organized to chaos. He yelled at Monferno, “You gotta get out of there, try to scorch his vines!” Monferno started to use flamethrower wildly, hoping to catch a small hit. As he was flung around the room by the Victreebel lights, floor, and every surface that Mon could hit, got burned. Mon however, was able to get control of the fire and hit the Victreebel, causing him to be dropped down onto the floor. Now constantly battling the vines trying to approach, Monferno needed to get a plan into action. He used double team and sent all the clones and himself to attack the weakened pokemon. “Monferno!” Kev yelled, “Use Close Combat and push him into the fire!” 


All the clones jumped at once, blinding the Victreebel to the real Monferno on the ground right in front of him. He winded up and smashed into the plant pokemon with fists of fury. Punch after punch, kick after kick, and blow after blow was too much for the Grass-type as he was launched right into the fire with immense force. The force was so great that the fire around the Victreebel, swelled up and collapsed right on top, dealing more damage, but extinguishing the fire. It was clear to everyone, Seth, Kev, but most importantly, the ref. “Victreebel cannot continue!” The ref yelled, “Gym Leader Seth is out of Pokemon! Kevin is the winner!”


Seth started to walk over and approach Kevin. Once he got close enough he said, “Good job kid, you brought the best out of me.” Seth complimented pulling a box out of his pocket. “Here you go, the Leaf Badge, signaling that you are ready to go onto the next area.” As he pulled it out of the case it had a key attached to it. “Not only do you need this key to get into the next hotel, you’ll need it to access the pokemon league, so keep it safe. Otherwise, great battle kid, hope you go far!”


As Seth started to leave Kevin breathed a big sigh of relief, he did it, he won his first gym battle. Well time to pack up and get ready for the next city, he thought to himself. Wait a minute, he remembered, I need to talk to Nidorino and get things straight. He got his stuff ready for the next town, stopped at the pokecenter to heal up and was ready to go when he finally got the guts to ask Nidorino about this whole trick they were playing on him. Kevin went out to a secluded area near the forest and pulled out Nido’s pokeball and summoned him. “Hey Nido!” Kev said enthusiastically, “Thanks for all the help today in the battle!”


“Nido-Nidorino!” The Pokemon said happily back to him, trying to keep up the facade.


“Also that was quite the taunt you did, ya’know? I wonder what you were saying also made him pretty angry.” Kev said mimicking the gesture.


A sense of dread fell upon the Nidorino, Oh shit, he thought to himself, I ruined it, maybe I can convince him. “Nido…?” he said back to his trainer questioningly, with his voice quivering. 


“Yea, it was probably along the lines of ‘Suck this, bitch!’ right?” Kev sarcastically said.


Giving up Nido said, “Well fuck, I guess the gig is up huh?”


“Yep.” The trainer replied, “I know it's my fault too, that I haven’t been so forthcoming with this information, but I’m sure you understand”
        “Oh yea, I do, but someone else doesn’t” Nidorino replied, relieved that not only was he able to speak normally again, but that he didn’t have to feel any guilt over not talking to his trainer. “Monferno is still quite confused about you, giving him some love after a few win’s huh? Well, you better explain yourself before he gets any impressions you can’t take back. If you feel a certain way then go for it, I think he’ll appreciate it” Nidorino teasingly said.


        
        “Wha-What?” Kevin said shocked.


        “After you catched me, Monferno said you gave him a big ol’ kiss, right on the lips, doesn’t really seem like a ‘Good Job!’ kiss to me, or him. Am I right about this or are you just really affectionate?” Nido said.


Kev couldn’t deny it, he even though it was a spur of the moment thing, it was based on feelings he was to shy to act on before. “Fine,” he said, “but you can’t be here, it has to be between you and me” 


        “Sure” Nido replied, “I got a show to finish up on back in my ball”


        “Ok smartass, here you go.” Kev said as he summoned Nidorino back into the ball. As Nido’s ball settled he pulled out the one with the flame marked on it, Mon’s ball. He pushed the white button in the center of the ball, lips quivering from anticipation. Monferno started to materialize and looked at his trainer, lovingly. “Hey Mon, we got somethings to talk about.”