Tyler shuffled through his three pokeballs, being completely caught off guard. He’d choose one and throw it.

“Okay, so I know I just caught you but, go Mareep!”

His new pokemon let out a ‘Baa’ as she got released.

“Alright bud, use Thunder Shock!” 

Orion’s Swablu started off with a Disarming Voice. Tyler commanded Mareep to Tackle, and it was just enough to outspeed the move, but also while taking damage from it.

“Go for another Thunder Shock!”

Tyler shouted. 

“Fury Attack!” 

Orion commanded Swablu; Tyler’s Mareep knocked it out with another Tackle as the two butted heads. 

 Tyler sent his pokemon back after seeing that she’s taken a lot of damage.

“Rest for right now, okay? You’ve done amazingly. Now, Litten! Come on out!”

Orion grinned as he sent out his Murkrow.

“Now I’m gonna go first. Use Gust!”

Litten dug his claws into the ground. 

“Hang on there! Fight back with Ember!”

Tyler watched as his pokemon released the ball of fire without letting go of the ground. He grinned as Murkrow let itself get burnt.

“Haha, I knew that’d work! Now charge ahead and use Fury Swipes!”

“Hmm..he’s definitely one clever kid.”

Orion thought to himself.

“Counter with Wing Attack!”

The two pokemon butted heads and took damage from one another.

“Finish him off with a Bite!”

Tyler commanded. 

“Not so fast, kiddo. Use Dark Pulse to counter!”

Orion shouted; Murkrow had knocked out Litten.

Tyler puffed his cheeks.

“I…oh jeez. Well…come back for now, Litten. Let’s go Mareep!

He looked unsure as to what to do; Mareep was just barely hanging on.

“Can you still fight?”

His pokemon let out a reassuring ‘Baa.’

“Cool! Let’s go for yet another Thunder Shock!”

He’d say, watching her knock out Orion’s Murkrow.

“Now then, this may be my last pokemon, but it won’t guarantee you a win against me!”

The skunk stated rather proudly as he held out his final pokeball.

“Gooooo Gligar!”

Tyler sent back Mareep.

“I don’t want to make you overwork yourself.”

He looked at his final pokeball before sending it out.

“Go Deerling! Go for a Double Kick!”

“Gligar! Counter with Knock Off!”

Tyler grunted a little.

“Hm..alright, use Leech Seed!”

The two commanded their Pokemon back and forth, one after another with attacks…until Tyler made the final blow with a Feint Attack from his Deerling. 

Orion sent back his Gligar.

“You did great. Thanks Gligar, I owe ya.”

He went up to Tyler and shook his hand.

“I’ll admit it, kiddo, you really gave me a run for my money there. You surely know how to battle, and honestly I can’t wait to see how your friends will do against me. I’m sure they’ll give me just the same amount of excitement!”

Tyler chuckled.

“Haha, thanks! I actually really appreciate that.”

The skunk smiled, and dropped the Flying Badge in his hands.

“Of course. You did a great job.”

The three left the stadium with their badges in hand later that day.

“Alright, so we’ve got a long way to go before reaching Westerdon, and the sun may be setting soon. Do you guys want to go visit my Mom on the way there? Tell her how we’ve been doing so far?”

Brian asked as he turned to his friends.

Sammy shrugged.

“I don’t see why not. I’m sure she’d be happy to see us.”

Tyler yawned.

“Of course. Besides, I’m sure we could all use a bit of a nap, too. I’m absolutely exhausted.”

Sammy took a hold of his hands.

“Then come on, sleepyhead. We don’t need you passing out on us on the way.”

The wolf looked back at her, confused.

“Now hold on, I never said I was going to do that.”

She grinned.

“No but it was definitely implied. Now c’mon.”

“Alright alright, fiiine.”