Author's Note

It's time for Apple Bloom to have her third gym battle. She meets a Pokémon that would fit well in Sweet Apple Acres.

13. Apple Bloom's Golden Opportunity

Rumble steps out of a tunnel, and sees his destination.

"There it is." Rumble cheered. "Vermillion City! Now, I can heal my Pokémon, and prepare for my gym battle. Look out, Lt. Surge!"

The young man rushes to his destination. Meanwhile, in Johto, The Cutie Mark Crusaders see Goldenrod City ahead. Sweetie Belle still hold on to the container containing the white egg.

"What do you think will hatch out of that egg?" Scootaloo asked.

"I don't know." Sweetie Belle answered. "I do hope it's a cute Pokémon."

The girls look around the place. They looked around the Goldenrod City Department Store. It has lots of items helpful to Pokémon trainers.

"Rarity would have a field day exploring this store." Sweetie Belle said happily.

"I'm sure she would." Apple Bloom added.

Soon, the girls see a building that caught Apple Bloom's interest.

"This is it." Apple Bloom said proudly. "The Goldenrod City gym."

As the girls enter the building, a gentle girl with red hair and a white outfit. Greeted the group. "Hello, friends. Welcome to the Goldenrod City gym. My name is Whitney and I'm the gym leader."

"You're a gym leader?" Scootaloo gasped. "You look to gentle to run a place like this."

"Calm down, Scootaloo." Apple Bloom said. "Never judge a gym leader by her looks. Remember that gym leader Diamond Tiara told us about. Erika."

"Oh yeah. The Celadon gym leader. Sorry, AB."

Whitney then turns to Apple Bloom. "So, you're Apple Bloom. I recognize that sweet southern accent anywhere."

This made Apple Bloom blush as Whitney got her attention. "I take it you're here for a gym battle against me."

"That's right." Apple Bloom answered. "I have two gym badges, and I'm gonna make it three."

"Then, show me what you got."

As the girls got in position, Whitney gives information to her opponent. "This will be a two on two match."

"Okee Dokee." Apple Bloom replied. "I call fer Mareep."

"And, I choose Clefairy."

Out pops a pink creature. Apple Bloom gets out her Pokédex to study this Pokémon.

Clefairy, the Fairy Pokémon. The Pokédex said. These Pokémon are always in a good mood. They like to dance.

"Clefairy, use Metronome." Whitney called out.

Clefairy waved it's fingers in the air this scared Apple Bloom a bit. Metronome can come out as any Pokémon move.

At that moment, Clefairy fired a blast of water at Mareep. Luckily, the attack wasn't effective.

"That looked like Water Pulse." Scootaloo noticed.

"Now, it's my turn." Apple Bloom said. "Mareep, use Thunder Wave!"

Mareep fired some electricity at Clefairy. Whitney wasn't worried though. "My Clefairy isn't easy to paralyze, Apple Bloom. Clefairy, use Metronome again."

As Clefairy waved it's fingers, the electricity kicked in. Apple Bloom struck fast. "Okay, Mareep! Use that new move you learned. Use Discharge!"

Mareep unleashed a strong electric attack. Clefairy was struck so hard and fast, it soon fainted.

"Clefairy is unable to battle." One of the female trainers announced. "Mareep wins!"

At that moment, Mareep glowed. Apple Bloom knows that it means Mareep is evolving. When the glowing stopped, a pink creature with patches of wool is standing proudly.

"Looks like your Mareep evolved into Flaaffy." Whitney said as she recalled Clefairy .

Apple Bloom's Pokédex comes alive with info. Flaaffy, the Wool Pokémon and the evolved form of Mareep. It's bald spots are safer to pet than the wool.

"Congrats, Flaaffy!" Apple Bloom cheered.

"Let's see how your newly evolved Pokémon deals with this." Whitney said. "Go, Miltank!"

Out popped a cow like creature. This shocked Apple Bloom as she gets out her Pokédex. "Holy cow!"

Miltank, the Milk Cow Pokémon. The Pokédex said. It produces very nutritional milk. And, can hold its own in battle.

Knowing how powerful Miltank is, Apple Bloom strikes quickly. "Flaaffy, slow it down with Thunder Wave!"

Flaaffy showered Miltank with electricity. Whitney isn't easily deterred. "Miltank, use Body Slam!"

Fighting through the electric attack, Miltank jumped up, and landed of Flaaffy. This got Apple Bloom worried.

"Let's finish this." Whitney said. "Miltank, ROLLOUT!"

Miltank curled up into a ball and spins fast and hard, hitting Flaaffy so hard, it bumps into Apple Bloom before fainting.

"Flaaffy is unable to battle." The female trainer announced. "Miltank wins!"

"Return, Flaaffy." Apple Bloom said as she recovers from the impact.

She sees Miltank mocking her. That got Apple Bloom upset, and sent for her next Pokémon. "Time to teach you some manners, Miltank. Let's go, Quilava!"

Quilava came out ready for battle. Flaring up, it charged into Miltank. Apple Bloom was shocked to see that. "Oh my gosh. I think Quilava learned Flame Charge."

"That Flame attack still won't stop us." Whitney claimed. "Miltank, use Rollout!"

Suddenly, Miltank was paralyzed from Flaaffy's Thunder Wave. This was Apple Bloom's chance. "Okay, Quilava. Use Flame Wheel!"

Quilava rolled into a ball and charged into Miltank like a swirl if fire. The heat was so intense, Miltank soon fainted.

"Miltank is unable to battle." The female trainer announced. "Quilava wins. The winner of this Gym Battle is Apple Bloom!"

Apple Bloom cheered for her Pokémon cheered as her friends joined her to celebrate this win. After recalling Miltank, Whitney looked at the three friends, and smiled proudly.

"That was a great battle, Apple Bloom." Whitney praised. "Quilava was magnificent. And, seeing Mareep evolve into Flaaffy was a sight to behold." She then toke out a white diamond shaped badge with a yellow diamond in the middle. "You have earned the Plain Badge."

Apple Bloom receives the badge. "Thank you, ma'am." She puts it in her case. "Three down, five to go."

The trio of friends leave the gym and prepare to heal Quilava and Flaaffy. This was one tough gym for Apple Bloom. And, further gym battles will be tougher. Meanwhile, in Kanto, Rumble watches the S. S. Anne sail away,

"Battling the trainers on that ship is a good away to train my Pokémon." Rumble said. "Now, to the Pokémon Center. Tomorrow, I face Lt. Surge!"

End of Chapter 13

APPLE BLOOM
Quilava
Pidgeotto
Sentret
Flaaffy
Drowzee

SWEETIE BELLE
Croconaw
Kakuna
Egg(?)

SCOOTALOO
Chikorita
Bellsprout
Wooper