Welcome to Gaia! ::

((struggle? y, seems like an easy battle to me))

((i suppose but it kinda seems equivolent to my gyra struggling to beat chili. dosnt make so much sense. guess thatd b boring though lol.)

never knew he was strongest but it was just a compairison, since u have 2 strong fire types i figured bugs would b easy. if u wanna make it a struggle, a bug with water attacks would help make it realistic. none of those in unova though. none i can think of atleast))

((Henrietta vs. Burgh part 1: Praise my inferno))

A city of skyscrapers, that was Castelia City. Not an environment that Henrietta knew nothing about. However, she always felt as if she was drawing attention to herself today. Between the blonde and pink streaked frizzy hair, the clothes, the mud and the wound she must look like the type of person people stared at with disgust but wanted to avoid.

It was a bit nicer than high school.

She trekked on until she came across a building complete with odd shaped glass. An object on the top resembled a Pokeball and two statues to either side seemed to say 'trainers come here!'

Must be the gym..

Now, Henrietta -could- go and take a shower here and now but her battles had taught her that she was more than likely going to get messy. With that said, she'd much rather get worse than she was now instead of getting all nice and ruining it.

Inside of the multiple story Gym was a fancy looking place - at first glance. With wooden walls, abstract paintings and green patterned carpet - Henrietta felt the formality of the place. Until she stepped forward.

Honey. Thick, sweet smelling honey was littered everywhere. A wall of it set before it, it ran down from the walls. Henrietta's arms moved up and she hugged herself with a sudden feeling of strangeness. She'd never gotten into Lenora's gym, and the one in Striaton was a Cafe. A theme? An art gallery would've been better.

Stepping forward, Henrietta saw no other path but beyond that wall of honey.

Foresight. Henrietta furrowed her bros, tightened her lips and closed her eyes. There was only one way through.

Using her arms, she pushed against the wall of honey. It was slow going, but moving. Head falling downward, she kept pushing. Maybe just the wall will move and I wont-

And she was through, suddenly stumbling through the wall as it sort of gave away, and then snapped back into place behind Henrietta. Now before covering her in honey, however.

Standing there looking at her arms, Henrietta felt like crying. She'd been right about getting messy, but she hadn't anticipated this. She wasn't prepared.

Still, she pressed on, traversing the art gallery that doubled as a maze. All the while the sweet smell of honey flooded her nostrils.

It was two more walls before she was through and by then she was sticky. Clothes already tight, clung more to her skin. Her collar falling against her neck, her hair sticking in messyness. She could feel it... Drying. No, maybe it just felt like that. Her hole body either was covered in small chunks of honey or glistened with its sweetness.

Gross, unless you were into that sort of thing. Henrietta? Not so much.

Still, before her were some stairs.

"F-finally," she huffed. Her demeanor had changed. She looked defeated, drained and wasted. Stressed out, even.

And at the top of the stairs?

"Hello!" he shouted with an instant burst of happiness. Henrietta squeaked and took a step backward. Half her foot hung off the step - which she quickly made note of when she peered backward.

"My bug Pokémon are scurrying with excitement about getting to battle you. Let's get straight to it!" Burgh shouted. A device had risen up, permitting him to see Henrietta's trainer relevant information. Two badges, four Pokemon. Great! He had an adequate Pokemon to face her.

"Come, come," he said as he held his hand over a slot that produced the scaled Pokeball. "Let's battle!"

He threw the ball over head, over Henrietta and to the purple carpeted floor at the base of the stairs. Before it hit the ground a Pokemon emerged - Dwebble.

"Well?" Burgh asked, never losing the positive tone in his voice.

Henrietta nodded. She hadn't had to say a word. "Y-yeah."

"You are here for a challenge, right?" He smiled.

Henrietta nodded again, turning and releasing Melty at the base of the stairs.

"Great! Dwebble!" Burgh shouted as he stepped to the top of the stairs, standing next to Henrietta.

Was this their safe point?

"Rock Blast!"

Henrietta was in battle now. Her eyes focused, wide. Her expression charged, her lips lining up straight, a neutral expression. Her muscles tensed and then relaxed. She was focused now.

She couldn't let them take even one hit.

"Minsmog!"

The first rock came and flew over Melty's head - because he'd shrunk down under it. The Smog poured out of his head, cloaking him and catching Dwebble in the gaseous aspect of it.

"Snick! My switch was turned on!" Burgh shouted.

Snick?

There was a click that accompanied it, but Henrietta saw no result. Which meant what?

That whatever had happened was effecting Melty.

She recalled seeing a various switches on her way through the gym - this must be what he meant.

An environmental hazard.

There was no other direction that could happen, Melty's biggest chance was going up. He couldn't jump high but-

"Flame thrower aim down!"

There was the sound of a torch, and then the Smog exploded as Dwebble charged in to catch Melty. Thrust back by the concussive force, the shock wave rocked his body and the force threw him like debris into a far wall.

Melty rose above it, upside down, pseudo-floating because of the burning fire on his head. He was glaring.

Below was a pit trap. Henrietta could see it, but not clearly into it. There was a substance down below. The same color as the-

"Honey." Henrietta didn't take her eyes off of the battlefield.

"Correct!" Burgh shouted, raising a hand. "A honey trap. This is the environment of his gym." Striaton had one too, didn't it?

"Smack Down!" he commanded and Dwebble took to the air, quickly gaining distance over Melty. His little claw thing raised, big adorable eyes staring down Melty.

"Min!" Melty minimized again, the attack brushing overhead. Melty grinned.

"Burn and Hex!"

Dwebble took both blow as he tried again to Smack Down Melty, the first as he drew back his claw, the second met the Hex. However, the power of it pushed him back, offset him.

Melty twisted again to blast the ground, lifting himself up like a rocket again. It was difficult, it'd never work as a levitate or a fly. It was just a show of the strength of his flame, but he had burned it out just about.

Well, not really burned out, but the strain of it was too much. The initial burst carried him up, and a burst could slow his fall but he could never maintain it without bursts and he needed to be close to the ground for those.

Basically, it would never let him dodge ground based attacks like Earthquake or Fissure.

"Fain Attack!" Burgh shouted and Dwebble launched forward, claw cocked back. Melty immediately countered with a Hex but Dwebble twisted himself around it, the feint had gone perfectly.

Behind Melty, he smacked him with the full force of the attack.

Wax brow furrowed, Melty twisted himself around to see Dwebble attacking again.

"Stealth Rock," Burgh called and Dwebble released it, the rock went unseen, however. Henrietta had to counter the advancing Pokemon.

"Faint Attack!" Burgh called as Melty landed. It seems he'd found a weakness.

"Smog." Henrietta said.

The Smog was released, filling the area and Dwebble disappeared into it after Melty.

"Ignite."

An explosion occurred, never revealing whether or not Dwebble had hit again. The force rocketed Dwebble like a piece of debris once more and he crashed into the far wall. As his body bounced off to fall-

"Hex."

-he was bombarded with the attack, slamming him back into the wall on his way down.

When he hit the floor this time he was motionless.

((Screw proof reading. If the mistakes bug the crap out of you feel free to PM me a version that's corrected 3: ))

((Henrietta vs. Burgh part 3: I will protect you - fiery passion mix))

It was over.

Frate lay crumpled on the ground, appendages stuck in the arena. His body was broken, he couldn't even move. He lacked the energy for anything.

Henrietta...

Henrietta stared upon her Pokemon. She'd failed him. So thoroughly and completely. There was simply no such thing as an excuse for it.

I can still get stronger... With your help... There is one more stage...

Henrietta was crying, her hand reached out toward Frate, Pokeball in hand.

Don't cry, just wait. For both of us, for my clan. I'll achieve it. Don't give up just yet..

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed as she recalled him.

Burgh had also recalled his Pokemon. He didn't appear to care for Henrietta's condition. "Come come, the show must end."

His didn't have one last Pokeball, instead a Pokemon stepped up. Leavanny.

[Girl.]

Leavanny peered down at Henrietta.

"Come come. Stand up." Burgh reached a hand down to take Henrietta's wrist and pull her up. Startled, she looked upon him.

And she could have sworn she saw something move in his face, but her vision was blurred by tears.

"Just one more Pokemon."

"I can't," Henrietta sobbed.

"It's just one. Come come. We must finish the match."

"No!" Henrietta shouted.

A blade passed by, and the Pokeball fell from her belt. "Darumi!" Henrietta shouted, turning to watch the ball fall down the steps.

An arm stopped her from going forward. Leavanny leaped over it.

"Move!" Henrietta shouted. She pushed the arm, to no avail.

"Once she wants to battle, nothing can stop her." Burgh smiled sweetly. "Come come, it's just one more."

Henrietta felt herself shaking as her eyes moved to Burgh. A flash in her periphereal. She turned her head quickly.

"Darumi! Run!"

Darumi looked up the thing that had released him. Leavanny.

[What did you do to Henrietta?] Darumi asked.

[She has defeated one of mine. So I will return the favor twofold.] Leavanny smiled. An adorable face - if not for those lifeless eyes.

"Darumi!" Henrietta cried again, but she could not get passed Burgh's arm. Somehow, it felt inhumanly strong.

Was this a nightmare.

[I'll protect her, and everyone else.] Darumi's fangs and hands ignited in flames.

[I am amused.] Leavanny's leg shot out suddenly. Darumi jumped back to dodge it when he noticed she wasn't trying to kick him.

Detaching from her leg was an army of leaves.

Razor Leaf.

His mouth opened and he released an incinerate, torching the attack before it could reach him.

But before he could land hew as struck from behind. Fangs stuck into his back and he twisted around when Leavanny's head jerked, throwing him. Higher in the air, he twisted around to release another Incinerate.

Levanny retreated to the wall quickly, kicking off of it and into the air. Darumi followed with his body, closing in when she hit the ceiling, kicking this time to the side wall.

The duration was too long. Incinerate ended, Darumi breathed.

X-Scissor slashed across his chest - if he had a visible throat he'd be dead. The two blades dragged across his skin as he exhaled. His fists reached out but she'd already retracted her own.

What is this?

Darumi did the only thing he could - he generated a shock wave with the explosion he used for Rock Smash.

Leavanny resisted it, resisting and attacking. Struggle Bug.

Darumi was blasted by the attack. Into a wall.

Of honey.

Stuck to it, he tried to ignite his hands when Leavanny landed, coating them both in String Shot. The flames of his hands began to ignite when a blade dragged across his chest.

"Daru!" Darumi shouted.

"Darumi!" Henrietta cried, she'd been shouting this entire time. Pushing and shoving at Burgh to no avail. She was crying, struggling.

He couldn't fail her - not now.

Leavanny was dancing now, each spin of her Sword Dance - every stage - saw another slash. Each one was stronger, three in total.

Darumi was a mess of gashes by the end of it.

[Can't you do more? Your type is fire, after all.]

Darumi pushed more, he felt the fire licking at every hole, every opening. He was leaking power - power he couldn't control.

[Damn... you..] His voice was weak. He was bleeding terribly. Leavanny placed the tip of her blade to his stomach.

[I suppose you cannot.]

She impaled him.

Darumi screamed. Henrietta joined him.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!]

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Leavanny twisted the blade in his gut, so the blade was now horizantal. [Good bye.]

Darumi exploded. Leavanny was forced back. The honey liquefied, the stringshot burned away.

Darumi's entire body was alight with flames. He landed.

Every part of him burned. Pain and passion, he charged.

And he hit.

Flare Blitz.

Leavanny was torched by the attack, leaves of her form blackening as she was forced backward. She gave a shriek as the flames licked her and she landed, one foot on the ground and her body bent.

Darumi lost her in this, moving over her now. He hit the ground, flames still all over. He felt the force of his own attack - it had hurt. But this wasn't the end. Not yet.

He turned and attacked, jumping with a Fire Punch.

And was impaled again.

Payback.

[Your reach isn't long enough.] Leavanny said as Darumi bent slightly over the bladed arm. She permitted him to drop with the change of her angle, lowering her blade arm. [I shall now obtain my next opponent.]

Leavanny - disfigured and black - was gone. Aerial Ace to Henrietta. [Hand over the Litwick girl.]

Henrietta was stunned, eyes wide. Leavanny's blade struck out. A flash occurred, and it was deflected at the tip as Henrietta jumped back, shinai now in hand.

"No! I'll protect them from you! Stay away!" She hadn't understood the Leavanny but she knew what the Pokemon wanted. To kill her friends. She would win this, and save Darumi.

Darumi....

He barely managed to lift himself by his hands. Blood fell from every wound, he was going to die like this. On his feet he tried to control his heat. His eyes closed, he felt himself burning. Torching. But he could do this, he could control it.

No, he failed. He stumbled forward. He couldn't melt the wounds closed. A drastic measure, but it needed to be done. His head rose.

[Henrietta!] he shouted, eyes wide. He charged. He would protect her.

He would!

Darumi was up the stairs in an instant.

Your reach isn't long enough echoed in his head.

Then it'll get longer!

Can't you do more?

Yeah! This wasn't the limit!

Darumi was up the stares.

[I told you already, you cannot reach me.] Leavanny was turning. She'd felt the heat of his approach.

Darumi was in the air again, arm cocked back. Now it was swinging.

Henrietta! I'll protect you!

There was a flash of light, of change.

Leavanny struck, to end this battle once and for all.

The fist connected.

Leavanny's face caved in under the force of it, crushed by it. But she didn't die. The force would merely rocket her backward, off the edge of Burgh's stage, into the pit of canvas and art below with a crash, her face alight with flames. A scream echoing across all of the walls.

Darumi landed. His fists hit the floor to stabilize himself. Not just because he was weak.

Because of his new form.

He'd evolved.

Henrietta stood, wide eyed. Amazed.

"Darumi..." she whispered.

[I was... just in time...]

Darumi collapsed.

She recalled him and turned to Burgh. There was still a threat remaining.

"Aww... I lost. Whatever! Losing to you doesn't bug me because you are a-MAZ-ingly strong! This is the Gym Badge! You beat me, so it's yours! It's the Insect Badge! It's insectible--I mean, incredible!" He was suddenly back to normal. In his hand was the badge.

Henrietta stared at it. Burgh was smiling. Henrietta was hesitant.

"Come come. Take it and leave."

Henrietta heard something odd in his tone but obeyed. She couldn't stay, if she was being allowed to leave, she would do just that. Before any more danger came.

Badge snatched and in hand, she ran, pushing aggressively back through the walls of honey.

When she hit the streets she didn't stop running until she reached the Pokemon Center.

((Leavanny's got a Grass type Ranyaku. Excellent.

Also, Kiedis would be into Henrietta covered in honey.))

AJ wasn't finding the answers he needed, sure he was getting answers he wanted, but no real reason as to why he had lost. AJ lost badly to Burgh in an epic fashion at that, he felt more than just discouraged when he happened upon a statue, somehow he had made his way from route 4 to the desert resort without even realizing it.

AJ just stood there staring at the statue, looking at it pondering. AJ's eyes widened when a realization hit him. He lost because he lacked the disipline behind pokemon, he had the friendship, but the disipline is what he lacked. He needed to find a way to train that showed him, and some how this statue had helped him. He kneeled before it and began to pray a little worshiping the statue.

the boy and his kirlia were sitting on the edge of the main dock, his gyarados passing by often, the 2 hummed together, relaxing