Author's Note

For her final gym battle, Apple Bloom faces powerful dragon types.

31. Dragon Trials

Dawn rises to welcome a new day in Blackthorn City. Apple Bloom and her friends leave the Pokémon Center, and have one thing on their minds.

"Well, guys." Apple Bloom said. "This is it. It's time for me to get my final badge."

"We're with you, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle replied. "Once you defeat the gym leader, you're on your way to the Johto League."

In Sweetie's arms, Togepi chiros happily.

"Looks Ike Togepi is starting to warm up to you, Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo noticed.

Sweetie Belle giggled as the girls make their way to the Blackthorn gym. As they enter the building, they were greeted by a sky blue haired woman wearing a black dress and a flowing cape.

"Welcome to the Blackthorn Gym." The woman said. "I am Clair, the gym leader. Which of you have come to challenge me to a battle?"

Though intimidated, Apple Bloom steps up. "My name is Apple Bloom. I'm here to challenge you."

"So, somebody like you defeated Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, Morty, Chuck, Jasmine, and Pryce. Interesting. And, I see you saw Ho-oh. I can tell by the Rainbow Wing on your necklace."

Apple Bloom just remembered that Ho-oh dropped a Rainbow Wing, and it was made into a necklace so she carries it around. The two ladies take their positions with a young man dressed in black as a referee. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo watch from the sidelines.

"This will be a three on three battle." Clair said.

"Okay, Clair." Apple Bloom agreed. "I'll start off with Swinub."

"And, I'll begin with Dratini!"

Out came Swinub and a serpentine creature. Apple Bloom studies it with her Pokédex. Dratini, the Dragon Pokémon and an early form of Dragonite. This Pokémon sheds it's skin many times. The shedded skin is used to make clothing.

"Kinda small for a dragon type." Apple Bloom noticed.

"Small, but very strong." Clair informed. "Dratini, use Slam."

Dratini wound up it's tail, and hit Swinub hard. Clair followed it up. "Now, use Dragon Rage!"

Glowing with green energy, Dratini charged into it's opponent.

"Dodge!" Apple Bloom called out. "Then, use Powder Snow!"

Swinub dodged Dratini and unleashed a blast of snow. Dratini suffered the cold as Apple Bloom called out again. "Follow it up with Ice Shard!"

The Pig Pokémon fired a large icicle at Dratini,,causing it to faint.

"Dratini is unable to battle." The young man announced. "Swinub wins!"

Apple Bloom cheered as her Swinub gelt happy. Clair recalled Dratini and made another choice. "Your Swinub is a pretty good ice type. But, my next Pokémon will out class it. Go, Dragonair!"

Out came a longer serpentine creature. Apple Bloom took out her Pokédex again. Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon and the evolved form of Dratini. Rumors say that this Pokémon can control the weather.

Apple Bloom decided to strike first. "Swinub, use Powder Snow!"

As Swinub blew snow at Dragonair, Clair makes a move. "Dragonair, use Aqua Tail!"

Powering it's tail with water, Dragonair struck Swinub hard. The Pig Pokémon soon fainted.

"Swinub is unable to battle." The young man announced. "Dragonair wins!"

"Return, Swinub." Apple Bloom said. "Nice try. Just get some rest."

"Swinub may be a ice type," Clair said, "but it's also a ground type. Very vulnerable to water moves. So, who will you call out next?"

Apple Bloom makes her choice. "Let's go, Miltank!"

Miltank came out, ready for action.

"I wondered whi Apple Bloom exchanged her Typhlosion for Swinub." Scootaloo said. "Probably thinks fire types are vulnerable to water moves."

Clair looks at Miltank with interest. "Miltank, the Milk Cow Pokémon? Interesting choice."

"I have to be ready for anything." Apple Bloom said.

"Dragonair, use Dragon Tail!"

Dragonair energized it's tail with Dragon energy. As it's swings it's tail, Apple Bloom reacted. "Miltank, use Zen Headbutt!'

Miltank avoided the tail and charged with it's head glowing. It strikes Dragonair as Apple Bloom makes another move. "Now, use Rollout!'

Curling into a ball, Miltank rolled fast, and struck Dragonair hard. This shocked Clair as Dragonair faints. "Dragonair, NO!"

"Dragonair is unable to battle." The young man announced. "Miltank wins!"

"Nice work, Miltank!" Apple Bloom cheered.

Clair recalled Dragonite, and looks at the scene proudly. "I admire your loyalty to your Pokémon, Apple Bloom. You're a good trainer."

"Thank you, miss Clair." Apple Bloom replied.

"Now, here's my third and final Pokémon. Go, Kingdra!"

Our comes a blue seahorse type critter with a long snout. Apple Bloom has it studied. "So, that's a Kingdra, huh?"

Kingdra, the Dragon Pokémon. The Pokédex said. They say it's yawning controls currents.

Looking at this scary Pokémon, Apple Bloom has an idea. "Return, Miltank. I might need you later." She then makes her next choice. "Let's go, Ampharos!"

Ampharos comes out and got Clair's attention. "Now, you sent out an electric type. You sure know how to adjust to any situation."

"I sure do." Apple Bloom replied. "Time to wraps this up. "Ampharos, use Electro Ball!"

Ampharos energized a ball of electricity, and launched it into Kingdra. But, Clair reacted quickly. "Kingdra, use Dragon Pulse on that Electo Ball!"

Kingdra fired a blast of dragon energy to cancel the attack. Apple Bloom got scared as Clair followed up her move. "Okay, Kingdra, use Twister!'

Kingdra sent a tornado to enclose Ampharos. Apple Bloom soon reacted. "Ampharos, jump from that Twister and use Thunder Punch!'

Ampharos broke free witn it's fist full of electricity. It struck Kingdra suddenly, and caused the majestic Pokémon to faint.

"Kingdra is unable to battle." The young man announced. "Ampharos wins. The winner of this gym battle is Apple Bloom from Canterlot!"

"We did it, Ampharos!" Apple Bloom cheered.

Apple Bloom and Ampharos hugged each other as Clair recalled Kingdra. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo joined their friend as Clair walks up to her.

"I had all kinds of opponents challenge me." Clair said. "You are among the few who showed compassion towards your Pokémon. I'm proud of you."

Apple Bloom blushed as Clair pulls out a black badge in the shape of a dragon. "In recognition of your battling skills, I hearby present you with the Rising Badge."

Just then, a hand swoops down and takes away the badge. Everyone, including Clair were shocked to see this. In steps a gray haired man wearing a samurai type outfit. He then speaks to some of the trainers in the gym leaders. "Tie up these children."

Suddenly, the Cutie Mark Crusaders find themselves tackled, and had their hands tied behind their backs and ankles tied together. The samurai then steps up to the girls.

"You three are unworthy to battle my daughter." The man said angrily. "She now must recover from what you did to her." He turns to the trainers. "Take them away!"

As the trainers carry the girls to another section of the gym, Clair watches with tears in her eyes. Father, why did you do this?

End of Chapter 31

APPLE BLOOM
Pidgeot
Furret
Ampharos
Hypno
Miltank
Swinub

At Prof. Elm's Lab
Typhlosion
Scyther
Sudowoodo
Poliwhirl

SWEETIE BELLE
Feraligatr
Beedrill
Sunkern
Granbull
Togepi

SCOOTALOO
Meganium
Weepinbell
Quagsire
Machoke
Pineco