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On the sand bank, Salieri stood next to Cilan with her arms folded, overlooking her pokemon. Salem was burrowing around, making holes in the earth and jumping into them. The next moment, she would reappear on the other end of the sand bank, popping her head out from under the sand happily.

Liuye Dao had gotten the Dig attack under control, but he was sitting on the sidelines. Being underground didn’t make him feel comfortable at all. “It’s okay Liuye. I’m sure we’ll think of something else,” she reassured her pokemon with a pat on the back. Still, Liuye looked down at the ground in disappointment.

While Salem was getting Dig under control, Chen Zhen was a natural. He hopped into the air and dived down into the earth like it was water, creating a hole instantly. Salieri imagined that her Pansage swam through the ground, as he could reappear almost instantly across the sand bank right after. “Your Pansage has an excellent taste for this attack,” Cilan informed Salieri, impressed.

“Yep, he’s a natural all right,” Salieri said proudly. Chen Zhen jumped out of the ground and flipped to his feet. He looked over to Salem, and when the Eevee looked back he immediately turned away to continue digging. “He seems really motivated to make this attack perfect. I think he’s trying to impress me.”

“Hmmm….perhaps. I feel like there’s another motive here. Perhaps he just wants to prove himself against a Fire Type pokemon.”

“That’s his fighting spirit! Chen Zhen, I think you’re ready!”

Chen Zhen’s arm came out from underground, giving Salieri a thumbs up, followed by the rest of his body. Salem popped up soon after, panting from the hard work. “I think we’re going to have to challenge the gym tomorrow. I want you guys in top shape for the battle. Hey Chen Zhen, give one of your leaves to Salem, wouldja?”

Chen Zhen gulped as he looked over to the Eevee, who had trotted over to Liuye’s side and was now resting comfortably on the ground. What if he did something stupid? He thought back to how Salieri talked with boys, and decided to just be confident.

There was a small puddle next to the sand bank, and Chen Zhen looked down into it. Using it as a mirror, he began to fluff up the mass of leaves on his head, trying to make them stand up like a Simisage’s would. Unfortunately, it kept flopping back down. Someday it’ll work. Someday…

Taking a deep breath, Chen Zhen walked over to Salem, wincing slightly as he took off one of his leaves. It was like pulling out a hair. [Um, here you go. This should make you feel better.]

Salem opened one of her closed eyes, examining the leaf before her. Stretching out one of her forelegs in a catlike fashion, she took the leaf and ate it. A few seconds later, she burst to life, perking her head up happily. [Wow, thanks,] the peppy Eevee said to Chen Zhen, making his cheeks turn slightly pink.

Oh, now what would Salieri do? Hmm, she’d want to follow up somehow. What does she usually say? Uh…

[So, uh, what are you doing after this?] he asked her while rubbing the back of her head much like his trainer did. Salem looked left, then right. The training was over. They weren’t doing anything.

Salem cocked her head to the side, confused. [After what?] Chen Zhen gulped, and his eyes widened in horror. Somehow, he had messed up a step. Now what was he supposed to do?

In panic, Chen Zhen quickly grabbed up and ripped a small handful of leaves off of his head, stuffing them into his mouth. Chewing on the leaves, he looked away, now having an excuse to think of some way to respond. All he had to do was stall and-

Oh….my…..GOD I’M GOING TO PUKE.

Chen Zhen spun onto his heel and dived, Digging into the grass, and speeding away. Salem turned her head and watched a clump of earth move about the grass in a trail. The trail went into the bushes, and then Salem heard a loud “BLEH!”

Salem looked at Liuye, who had been watching silently as well, his eyes narrowed in disgust. [Liuye, did he just…ewwwwwww.] The Eevee stuck out her tongue and shuddered. [Now I’m going to be sick.]

Salieri turned her head back, watching where that awful noise in the bushes came from. “…hey Cilan, how do we get back to the pokemon center? I think I might have overworked Chen Zhen.”

The door to the Gym opened soon after N knocked upon the door. Just inside a blue haired teen bowed before the entering gentleman. "Welcome to the Striaton City Pokémon Gym and restaurant. Would you like a table for one, sir?"

He had already been close enough to touch her shoulder and now he was stepping even closer? Henrietta took a single uneasy step back as she continued to stare off at the side.

"I-i'm s-sorry," she said uneasily. Her head turned slowly, hesitantly, to face Kijin but she didn't look him in the eyes. Instead she looked straight ahead and, given that he had a good six inches on her, this put her well below eye contact level.

"I-i... C-can I h-help you?"

The teen before her was intimidating, to say the least. It didn't exactly make Henrietta feel comfortable. So, as if out of habit or reflex, when she noticed his arms crossed and felt his scowl her head lowered slightly. "I-i don't know. H-hum, y-you c-can get a P-pokedex f-from Pr-p-professor J-juniper. I didn't kn-know Nuvema Town H-had a Gym, b-but I guess they do, a-according to Ch-chili.

((Just to clarify, Henrietta thinks she's right outside of Nuvema, but they are at Striaton.))

Henrietta took a step backward when Kijin stepped forward. It wasn't just fear, it was distance. A built in reaction. "H-hum, i-it's okay," she said. Her eyes had lowered to his feet so she didn't see the smile.

"I-i'm j-just n-not g-good w-with p-people."

Henrietta timidly shook her head. "H-hum, I'm f-fine. I-i need to train f-for my gym match," she said.

Her Pokemon were hard at work, too. With the strategies she'd given them, they had slowly been growing much stronger. And while they busied themselves, it seemed, that they hadn't noticed their trainer.

"Th-thank you, th-though."

Why are you thanking him? Isn't he trying to apologize?

But what if he's upset that I turned him down?

Then he shouldn't be apologizing in the first place.

Hum...

"Y-you too," Henrietta said quietly as Kijin left.

Now where was she? Right, training. She looked over at her Pokemon. They were still hard at work, training to become a lot stronger. She'd need it if she was going to take on people like Chili. Trainers of his caliber? It seemed unreal. Would he go easy on her? Were they allowed to?

Henrietta didn't know. So, to clear her head from a triple threat of nervousness, being shaken up and the previous humiliation, she drew her Shinai and went about practicing her kendo.

Biting his tongue in a mild panic Takamaru could only watch and hope that Spike was alright since any commands that he would or even could usher wouldn't be heard from under the earth. Takamaru watched as the ground rippled from the force of the strike...

then, assuming that Hitmonlee was under the influence of gravity it would no doubtlessly be on its way towards the ground directly after the strike. that being the case, a small break in the ground formed then the small mole pokemon erupted from just behind Hitmonlee in its blind spot! the damage done from the collapsing tunnels was extensive but not unbearable for a pokemon used to cave In's. After coming from the ground Spike was hurtling towards Hitmonlee's blind spot while the spring legged pokemon was in mid decent, and in a most difficult position in which to defend ones self's.

on his way toward the Fighting type spike began to rotate its body and then proceeded to use 'Iron Defense' to build up the attack, in high hopes of striking Hitmonlee. weather or not this attack succeeded Spike would undoubtedly take a vast amount of recoil damage.