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Accepting Mistu's win, Winona walked over to her chair and pressed a combination password. A small box popped out, filled with badges. She took one out and placed her Pokeballs in the chair's healing mechanism.

"Spunky, I mean, Mitsu, I award you with the Feather Badge. You can now use HM 02 Fly outside of battle. Also take this with you." She handed Mitsu a TM and 4000 Pokedollars. "That's Aerial Ace, it's super fast and never misses! I'm sure you'll find a good use for it."

Winona looked over to Mike, who was staring off into space. "I didn't think she had the guts to be your girlfriend, that's why I was so harsh on her."

Mike aqquired an almost angry expression. "She's not my girlfriend!" He shouted. "Besides, it's my turn to challenge you now, get ready!" Mike dashed over to where Mistu was just standing.

Mike blew a kiss at his friend on the sidelines as he prepared for battle.

Winona's face dropped into a stupor. "Are you for real boy?" She asked, almost with a laugh. "I thought you had your eyes on Flannery." She said, much too loud for Mike's taste, although whispering would be too vocal when hitting that sensitive topic.

Steam could have fired out of Mike's ears at that moment and it would not look out of place. "Hey! You leave her out of this!" He sneered, almost squeezing Titanium's pokeball. "I don't explain my emotions to you of all people!"

Winona looked almost flattered. "Oh, you still hold a grudge about that? Sorry hotshot, but Falkner was just more..." She cut off there, seeming to enjoy the goading as she retreived her Pokemon.

The sound of Mike's gritting teeth could have awoken a Snorlax from a slumber. "That's a low blow." Mike took a deep breath, Winona's smile helped him realize what she was doing. "Oh...you sneak!" He said, an exhale that could be considered half a laugh escaping. "You wanted to get me mad so I wouldn't be able to focus. Cunning." Mike waved his finger at the trick.

"That, and I just wanted to jab at your girl crazy attitude." She replied with a smile.

Mike released his death grip on the poor Steelix's pokeball. "Call your Pokemon Winona, I won't lose to you again."

Winona spun around and tossed her first Pokemon, "Go Swablu!" She cried as the small dove-like Pokemon was released from it's Pokeball.

Mike tilted his head at Nitro, then again to the floating bird. He got the message.

Nitro's eyes lit up, this being the first battle since his new form change. "You got it!" The excited Charizard said as it ran over the spot right in front of his trainer. He snorted some black smoke from his nostrils as he awaited orders. A small lump of some black dusty rock fell out from the ridges of his wings and bonked him on the head. "Oh hey!" Nitro exclaimed. "I forgot I had this Charcoal!" he tucked it back into his wing, it shimmering a dull red color.

"Let's start this off good Nitro, use Flamethrower!" Mike shouted to his Pokemon as he pointed at the enemy Swablu. "Take it down hard and fast!"

Winona got a command out before Nitro's attack. "Swablu, watch out! Charizard's flame attacks are strong, try to avoid it, then counter with a Take Down.!" Her Pokemon nodding in affirmation. Crap, Swablu was a bad idea, it's too small to make a dent in that Charizard! But I can't switch out now.

The jet stream of fire scalded the small wings of the Swablu as it failed to completely dodge the attack.

"Don't take that lying down Swablu, Take Down that oversized Gila monster!" Winona barked, her Pokemon fluttering it's wings in attempt to attack the vastely larger Charizard. It's attack connected, but left only a scratch. "Remember I'm much bigger than you." Nitro said before shooting another Flamethrower point blank at the now well done bird. It fainted as the now grumbling Gym Leader recalled it.

"Ok Nitro, that's enough." Mike said much to Nitro and Winona's surprise. "I want to keep you for later." He said with a seemingly focused face.

Well, he's definatly not a dummy. Winona thought to herself as she prepped her next Pokemon. "Come on out Pelliper!"

"Go Proton!" Mike tossed out his Electric Pokemon much to Winona's dismay. I seriously need something to counter that blasted type advantage

Kevin sat beneath a tree, with his faithful Squirtle at his side, just outside of Violet City. To the casual observer, he appeared to be zoning out. But in actuality, he was in deep thought. Despite the knowledge he had gained while attending the Pokemon Academy in town, he was at a loss as to what his next move as a trainer should be.

Suddenly, Kevin remembered that there were several types of Ghost Pokemon that could only be found in the Hoenn region. "I'll bet if we managed to catch one of those rare Ghost Pokemon from Hoenn, Morty would be impressed, dontcha think Monsoon?" he ask his companion.

The Squirtle looked up at his trainer and yawned. "Squirtle squir!" he replied enthusiastically and hopped to his feet.

"Ok then, I suppose we should get moving then. We should keep an eye out for other pokemon that would make a good addition to our team while we're over there" Kevin said as he stood up, brushed off his pants and started walking back into town with Monsoon right behind him.

"Heh!" Kasiya gave a sweet smile. "At least I didn't get them ALL!" she giggled, waving the bottle around before setting it down. "And besides. There's somthing about hot, salty fries and cool, sweet ice cream that just go together," she said happily, dipping the fries in her ice cream. She was rather amused at Keegan's grossed-out expression.