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Description
It took quite awhile for Jasmine to fully recover from her illness, even with the SecretPotion we had brought from
Cianwood. But recover she did, and by then she was more than ready to get back to battling.

Leif, May, and I arrived at the Olivine City Gym at the appropriate time. As you can well imagine, there was quite a list of
trainers waiting to make their challenge for the badge, but I was first in line.

"Glad to see you are on time," Jasmine said to me when we made it to the battlefield, "I have very much looked forward to this battle. But, if I may, I'm going to request a slight change in the rules."

"Change in the rules," I said, perplexed, "I suppose I would be OK with that."

"Well you see," she said, motioning to her sister, "You don't know this, but Kendra is quite an experienced trainer in her
own right. And we were hoping that we could challenge you, Saint, and Leif to a tag battle. If you two defeat the two of us, then you'll get the badge."

"What do you say, Leif," I asked, turning to my traveling companion.

I could see Leif visibly gulp. He was obviously still shaken from the last time he had battled. I knew he had lost Pokemon
in battles in the past, but nothing like what had happened in Cianwood. Leif took a moment to collect himself, close his eyes, and take a few breaths before answering.

"Ok," he said upon opening his eyes again, "I'm in."

"This tag battle will now officially commence," May said, stepping into the referee role, "the sisters of the Olivine City
Gym, Jasmine and Kendra, against Saint and Leif, two-on-two."

"Go Roxy," Jasmine called, throwing a PokeBall which contained a Steelix.

"Go Skar," Kendra called, releasing her Pokemon, a Skarmory.

"Oh no," I whispered.

"Skar, try knocking it off your wing with Swift!"

"Just hold on for a while, Charcoal!"

"You’ll just have to drive it into the ground!"

"Swing over onto its back!"

"Oh no you don’t, Skar, pull up!"

"Now Skar, use…"

"Stop!"

"Saint, what's up," Leif asked as he saw me spacing out.

"Nothing," I replied, "Go Rose!"

"If you say so. Go, Arashi!"

"And begin!"

"Rose, Razor Leaf against Steelix!"

"Arashi, use Flamethrower!"

"Roxy, block those attacks with Sandstorm."

Our Pokemon got the jump on the attacks, but Jasmine's Steelix very quickly began spinning around, whipping up a
sandstorm that blocked both of them.

"Be careful Leif," I said, "they have a major advantage in a Sandstorm."

"Skar, use Agility!"

The Skarmory began moving very fast, back and forth, though you could barely see it with all the sand.

"We're just going to have to attack straight on," Leif called, "Arashi, another Flamethrower, let's go!"

This time, the Flamethrower got through, but didn't make any contact.

"Skar, another Agility!"

"If we let her set up like that, we're not going to win," I said.

"Roxy, hit Bayleef with a Rock Throw!"

"Skar, follow that with an Aerial Ace!"

"Quick Rose, block the rocks with Razor Leaf!"

Unfortunately, neither Rose nor I could tell where the attacks were coming from. First, a flurry of rocks came out from
behind the sandstorm, knocking Rose into the air. Then Skarmory came flying out of nowhere and hit her attack as well. Rose crashed back down, almost defeated.

"No," I cried, "Leif, you have to do something, you have the type advantage here."

"I'm not sure what I can do," he replied, obviously starting to get nervous.

Just then, as if he knew exactly what he had to do, Arashi began glowing with a bright light. When the light subsided, he
was now standing on his hind legs, his fire collar bursting with flame.

"Arashi...evolved," Leif stuttered, "he's a Typhlosion now."

"I've got this," Arashi growled, the first words we'd ever heard him speak.

Arashi threw his head back and let out a roar. It very quickly got very hot in the gym, and I knew the reason.

"Arashi's using Sunny Day," I yelled at Leif, "this is our chance."

The sunlight came pouring through the glass plate roof which covered the battlefield. The beams of sunlight broke through the sandstorm, causing it to dissapate. With the display of strategy over, Arashi brought his head back down, and looked back at Leif, a look of determination on his face. Leif nodded to the large Fire-type.

"Is Rose OK," Leif asked.

"The sunlight should help," I responded.

And right I was, Rose got back up. But that wasn't all. She began glowing herself. Quickly transforming into her own
fully-evolved form, a Meganium.

"It's a brand-new battle, Rose, use Synthesis!"

Rose's giant flower collar began glowing as she took in sunlight to heal herself.

"That was well-timed," Jasmine calmly said, "you're Pokemon must trust you very much. But my sister and I can still win."

"Rose, hit Steelix with Razor Leaf!"

"Skar, block that!"

Steelix didn't even need to budge, as Skarmory easily blocked the attack.

"Arashi, Flamethrower!"

"Roxy, it's your turn to defend."

This time, Skarmory flew behind Steelix's, who took the Flamethrower right off the forehead without even budging.

"What are they doing," Leif asked.

"Steel-types are primarily defensive Pokemon," I answered, "Their best offense is a good defense. We can't win if we
can't hurt them."

"Well they can't win if they don't attack. Arashi, get closer to them."

"Skar, use Agility, then Aerial Ace!"

Kendra's Skarmory became even faster, before making a beeline for Arashi.

"Arashi, Flamethrower!"

Arashi didn't launch an attack, at least not at first. But as the Skarmory drew near, he reached his right paw back, which suddenly burst into flame. Skarmory hit with Aerial Ace, which is almost impossible to avoid, but as Arashi fell back, he
swung his arm upward, hitting his opponent in the jaw.

"Was that what I think it was," Leif asked, shocked.

"It sure was," I answered, "Arashi can use Fire Punch."

"Well why don't we just use it again, then?"

Arashi charged, his punching hand already primed.

"Easy," Kendra called, "use Double Team!"

Skarmory, who was already hard enough to hit, quickly split into six copies of itself. There was no way Arashi was hitting
it like this.

"Rose, break those copies with Razor Leaf!"

"Roxy, use Iron Tail!"

Jasmine's Steelix moved into position to strike Rose with its attack as Skarmory was still defending against Arashi.

"Change, Rose, hit Steelix instead!"

Rose quickly adjusted to aim at Steelix. However, when she fired the attack, Steelix was able to use its Iron Tail to block. Meanwhile, impatient with its opponent, Arashi had begun making swipes at Skarmory with no effect other than breaking a clone or two.

"Skar, use Steel Wing!"

"It's coming from behind, Arashi," Leif called, "Use Flamethrower!"

Skarmory swooped in to attack, but Arashi was ready for it. Just as Steel Wing was about to hit, Arashi ducked down on
all fours, dodging the attack. Then, without returning to a standing position, he fired a Flamethrower which struck Skarmory in the back, knocking it to the ground.

"That attack seemed particularly strong," I thought, then I got a little sunlight glare in my eye, "the sunlight!

"Leif, we have to attack together," I called, "we have to use the power of the sun!"

"OK," Leif answered, "Arashi, attack Skarmory with Flamethrower!"

"Rose, use Solarbeam!"

Kendra's Skarmory was still recovering from the last attack, and didn't have time to fly away before being blasted by
another sunlight-powered Flamethrower, knocking it out.

At the same time, Rose's petals shone brightly as they gathered in the necessary sunlight needed for the powerful attack, which it was able to do very quickly. Once it was fully charged, Rose launched a beam of light out of its mouth, straight at Jasmine's Steelix. To the Steel/Ground-type's credit, it took the attack head-on, not giving an inch of ground. However, to my relief, when the attack subsided, it went down, causing the whole building to shake with its fall.

"Skarmory and Steelix are both unable to battle," May exclaimed, "Saint and Leif win!"

I sat down and just breathed. It'd been a long time since I'd been a part of such an intense battle, and I was drained. Leif ran over to the newly-evolved Arashi and jumped into the arms of the Typhlosion, who was significantly taller than either
Leif or I.

"I didn't know you had that kind of power," Leif said.

"I said I had it," Arashi said, smiling.

"That was an impressive battle," Jasmine said as she and Kendra walked across the battlefield.

"Well we probably wouldn't have won if Arashi and Rose hadn't evolved when they did," I said.

"It is not for us to speculate on how the battle could have come out, it only matters how it did come out. And, as I
promised, Saint, here is the Mineral Badge, proof that you have defeated me in battle."

Jasmine handed me the light gray-colored badge. Clutching the badge in hand, I proceeded to lie all the way down on the ground and relax for awhile.

Description
It took quite awhile for Jasmine to fully recover from her illness, even with the SecretPotion we had brought from
Cianwood. But recover she did, and by then she was more than ready to get back to battling.

Leif, May, and I arrived at the Olivine City Gym at the appropriate time. As you can well imagine, there was quite a list of
trainers waiting to make their challenge for the badge, but I was first in line.

"Glad to see you are on time," Jasmine said to me when we made it to the battlefield, "I have very much looked forward to this battle. But, if I may, I'm going to request a slight change in the rules."

"Change in the rules," I said, perplexed, "I suppose I would be OK with that."

"Well you see," she said, motioning to her sister, "You don't know this, but Kendra is quite an experienced trainer in her
own right. And we were hoping that we could challenge you, Saint, and Leif to a tag battle. If you two defeat the two of us, then you'll get the badge."

"What do you say, Leif," I asked, turning to my traveling companion.

I could see Leif visibly gulp. He was obviously still shaken from the last time he had battled. I knew he had lost Pokemon
in battles in the past, but nothing like what had happened in Cianwood. Leif took a moment to collect himself, close his eyes, and take a few breaths before answering.

"Ok," he said upon opening his eyes again, "I'm in."

"This tag battle will now officially commence," May said, stepping into the referee role, "the sisters of the Olivine City
Gym, Jasmine and Kendra, against Saint and Leif, two-on-two."

"Go Roxy," Jasmine called, throwing a PokeBall which contained a Steelix.

"Go Skar," Kendra called, releasing her Pokemon, a Skarmory.

"Oh no," I whispered.

"Skar, try knocking it off your wing with Swift!"

"Just hold on for a while, Charcoal!"

"You’ll just have to drive it into the ground!"

"Swing over onto its back!"

"Oh no you don’t, Skar, pull up!"

"Now Skar, use…"

"Stop!"

"Saint, what's up," Leif asked as he saw me spacing out.

"Nothing," I replied, "Go Rose!"

"If you say so. Go, Arashi!"

"And begin!"

"Rose, Razor Leaf against Steelix!"

"Arashi, use Flamethrower!"

"Roxy, block those attacks with Sandstorm."

Our Pokemon got the jump on the attacks, but Jasmine's Steelix very quickly began spinning around, whipping up a
sandstorm that blocked both of them.

"Be careful Leif," I said, "they have a major advantage in a Sandstorm."

"Skar, use Agility!"

The Skarmory began moving very fast, back and forth, though you could barely see it with all the sand.

"We're just going to have to attack straight on," Leif called, "Arashi, another Flamethrower, let's go!"

This time, the Flamethrower got through, but didn't make any contact.

"Skar, another Agility!"

"If we let her set up like that, we're not going to win," I said.

"Roxy, hit Bayleef with a Rock Throw!"

"Skar, follow that with an Aerial Ace!"

"Quick Rose, block the rocks with Razor Leaf!"

Unfortunately, neither Rose nor I could tell where the attacks were coming from. First, a flurry of rocks came out from
behind the sandstorm, knocking Rose into the air. Then Skarmory came flying out of nowhere and hit her attack as well. Rose crashed back down, almost defeated.

"No," I cried, "Leif, you have to do something, you have the type advantage here."

"I'm not sure what I can do," he replied, obviously starting to get nervous.

Just then, as if he knew exactly what he had to do, Arashi began glowing with a bright light. When the light subsided, he
was now standing on his hind legs, his fire collar bursting with flame.

"Arashi...evolved," Leif stuttered, "he's a Typhlosion now."

"I've got this," Arashi growled, the first words we'd ever heard him speak.

Arashi threw his head back and let out a roar. It very quickly got very hot in the gym, and I knew the reason.

"Arashi's using Sunny Day," I yelled at Leif, "this is our chance."

The sunlight came pouring through the glass plate roof which covered the battlefield. The beams of sunlight broke through the sandstorm, causing it to dissapate. With the display of strategy over, Arashi brought his head back down, and looked back at Leif, a look of determination on his face. Leif nodded to the large Fire-type.

"Is Rose OK," Leif asked.

"The sunlight should help," I responded.

And right I was, Rose got back up. But that wasn't all. She began glowing herself. Quickly transforming into her own
fully-evolved form, a Meganium.

"It's a brand-new battle, Rose, use Synthesis!"

Rose's giant flower collar began glowing as she took in sunlight to heal herself.

"That was well-timed," Jasmine calmly said, "you're Pokemon must trust you very much. But my sister and I can still win."

"Rose, hit Steelix with Razor Leaf!"

"Skar, block that!"

Steelix didn't even need to budge, as Skarmory easily blocked the attack.

"Arashi, Flamethrower!"

"Roxy, it's your turn to defend."

This time, Skarmory flew behind Steelix's, who took the Flamethrower right off the forehead without even budging.

"What are they doing," Leif asked.

"Steel-types are primarily defensive Pokemon," I answered, "Their best offense is a good defense. We can't win if we
can't hurt them."

"Well they can't win if they don't attack. Arashi, get closer to them."

"Skar, use Agility, then Aerial Ace!"

Kendra's Skarmory became even faster, before making a beeline for Arashi.

"Arashi, Flamethrower!"

Arashi didn't launch an attack, at least not at first. But as the Skarmory drew near, he reached his right paw back, which suddenly burst into flame. Skarmory hit with Aerial Ace, which is almost impossible to avoid, but as Arashi fell back, he
swung his arm upward, hitting his opponent in the jaw.

"Was that what I think it was," Leif asked, shocked.

"It sure was," I answered, "Arashi can use Fire Punch."

"Well why don't we just use it again, then?"

Arashi charged, his punching hand already primed.

"Easy," Kendra called, "use Double Team!"

Skarmory, who was already hard enough to hit, quickly split into six copies of itself. There was no way Arashi was hitting
it like this.

"Rose, break those copies with Razor Leaf!"

"Roxy, use Iron Tail!"

Jasmine's Steelix moved into position to strike Rose with its attack as Skarmory was still defending against Arashi.

"Change, Rose, hit Steelix instead!"

Rose quickly adjusted to aim at Steelix. However, when she fired the attack, Steelix was able to use its Iron Tail to block. Meanwhile, impatient with its opponent, Arashi had begun making swipes at Skarmory with no effect other than breaking a clone or two.

"Skar, use Steel Wing!"

"It's coming from behind, Arashi," Leif called, "Use Flamethrower!"

Skarmory swooped in to attack, but Arashi was ready for it. Just as Steel Wing was about to hit, Arashi ducked down on
all fours, dodging the attack. Then, without returning to a standing position, he fired a Flamethrower which struck Skarmory in the back, knocking it to the ground.

"That attack seemed particularly strong," I thought, then I got a little sunlight glare in my eye, "the sunlight!

"Leif, we have to attack together," I called, "we have to use the power of the sun!"

"OK," Leif answered, "Arashi, attack Skarmory with Flamethrower!"

"Rose, use Solarbeam!"

Kendra's Skarmory was still recovering from the last attack, and didn't have time to fly away before being blasted by
another sunlight-powered Flamethrower, knocking it out.

At the same time, Rose's petals shone brightly as they gathered in the necessary sunlight needed for the powerful attack, which it was able to do very quickly. Once it was fully charged, Rose launched a beam of light out of its mouth, straight at Jasmine's Steelix. To the Steel/Ground-type's credit, it took the attack head-on, not giving an inch of ground. However, to my relief, when the attack subsided, it went down, causing the whole building to shake with its fall.

"Skarmory and Steelix are both unable to battle," May exclaimed, "Saint and Leif win!"

I sat down and just breathed. It'd been a long time since I'd been a part of such an intense battle, and I was drained. Leif ran over to the newly-evolved Arashi and jumped into the arms of the Typhlosion, who was significantly taller than either
Leif or I.

"I didn't know you had that kind of power," Leif said.

"I said I had it," Arashi said, smiling.

"That was an impressive battle," Jasmine said as she and Kendra walked across the battlefield.

"Well we probably wouldn't have won if Arashi and Rose hadn't evolved when they did," I said.

"It is not for us to speculate on how the battle could have come out, it only matters how it did come out. And, as I
promised, Saint, here is the Mineral Badge, proof that you have defeated me in battle."

Jasmine handed me the light gray-colored badge. Clutching the badge in hand, I proceeded to lie all the way down on the ground and relax for awhile.