Roxy and Chikorita walked through the automatic doors of the gym, where they found Whitney at the other end, apparently just setting up for the day. She blinked her red eyes sleepily and yawned. "Weren't you with yesterday's group, the ones who kept defeating me?"
"I was," Roxy answered, fighting to keep her voice even. "I'm Roxy Parkington of New Bark Town, and I've come to battle for the Plain Badge!" Her voice was growing stronger with every word she spoke; Roxy believed in Chikorita with all her heart.
Perhaps my winning streak will return if I battle this girl, Whitney thought, sizing Roxy up. Besides, she only had a Chikorita; how easy could this match be?
"One on one, then, Whitney?" Roxy asked, a frosty edge to her voice. The leader nodded and took one of her Pokeballs off the rack. While Whitney was getting ready, Roxy scooped Chikorita into her arms and looked into his red eyes. She could sense confidence and fear in his expression, hoping that the hug she gave him and the encouraging words she spoke would banish all his fears. "No matter what, I'm always here for you."
"Chiko Chikori Chiko," Chikorita replied softly before jumping to his place on the battlefield.
"All right...let's roll," Roxy muttered as Whitney returned with her chosen Pokemon. "I choose you, Chikorita!" she yelled, her voice ringing with hope. Whitney smirked before throwing her Pokeball to the battleground floor.
"Go, Miltank!" A plump, pink cow emerged, her face radiating seriousness and her horns polished to a sharp shine. "Miltank!" she bellowed, but Chikorita didn't show signs of intimidation. This was his first battle, and he wanted to prove to this Miltank that he wasn't as pathetic as he looked.
"Chikorita, tackle it!" Roxy called. Chikorita stepped back a few paces, breathing hard. With as much force as the small Grass Pokemon could muster, he ran head on into Miltank's stomach, apparently knocking the wind out of Miltank's body.
"Use Heal Bell, that should help," Whitney told Miltank. The bell tied around Miltank's neck began to clang loudly, and less than a second later Miltank had recovered her poise.
"Tackle her again, Chikorita!" Roxy was well aware that Chikorita knew only two attacks (Tackle and Growl) since he was her new Pokemon, but that didn't hinder either of them battling. Chikorita dashed forward and preformed the same move on Miltank, but this time he whipped her face with the leaf on his head, causing Miltank to recieve a bleeding cut near her nose. Wiping away the blood, she caused a massive Earthquake attack. Roxy braced herself, her teeth chattering from the vibrations, but Chikorita stood strong, racing down the length of the arena to plow into Miltank's stomach once more, knocking her against the gym wall. Whitney bit her lip as she raced to Miltank's aide.
"And again...I lose," she whispered, tending to Miltank's scrapes. "You have a friend in Chikorita, Roxy Parkington. This Plain Badge and badge case are rightfully yours. You both deserve it." She turned to Miltank, a half-smile on her lips. "As for me...I need to go out and train more."
Roxy couldn't have been happier as Chikorita leaped into her arms for a victory hug; in fact, she was close to tears. "Thanks, Whitney, I hope you have success in the future." She opened the white velvet badge case and slipped the Plain Badge in the engraved blue velour spot before racing out of the gym into the sunlight, Chikorita in one arm and her small badge case in the other.
Roxy could have sang; Jonathan would've been proud.
~Roxy~