498 LOG 57: From the Ground Up!

Virgo, Dawn, and I went to what appeared to be a triangular institute with mosque like roofs. In front of blue windows checkered in wood to give it a glorious feel was a symbol which was quite familiar. It's been a long time since I last saw that Pokeball symbol and definitely not my first time nor second, and third.

"We're just in time!" said Dawn.

"Driftveil Gym?" asked Virgo.

"Yes."

"Are you planning to participate in a gym battle?"

"No," replied Dawn to my question. "We're here to watch someone else. Met him a few days ago, though never really expected to see him after quite some time."

"Sigh, it's Logan, isn't it?"

"Ding! I thought we could ask help from him."

"The three of us can take down Team Plasma alone. We did it yesterday, why not now?"

"We didn't take down Team Plasma, in fact they won! The more the merrier."

"What's the matter, Luna?" asked Virgo.

"Nothing," I rolled my eyes. "Don't do what you did last time!"

"Oh, that reminds me." she winked. "Rest assured, I'll give it my all."

"Hmm?"

"No! No! I mean, I will. Hehe."

The red doors of the gym opened, revealing a golden pad leading upward, which was my initial assumption. We stepped to the platform, and one of the guys which wore a miner's outfit flicked a heavy metallic lever. The lever was a bit rusted, old, but for the jewels and gold ambiance? It looked rather impressive.

The platform sent us downwards. Bit by bit, the sounds of people cheering crunched my poor ear drums. The walls were no longer jewels and were muddy stones. They were similar to deltas, a mud formed commonly on rivers and other bodily masses of water.

The platform reached the basement. It was an arena, but a hot one. There didn't seem to be any fan or air condition unlike the other gyms. It was similar to a round house where illegal fighting occurs or a cock pit arena. They were walls but chains, and the people who screamed seemed to be supporting Logan, who, after all these weeks, looks happy as ever whenever he battles. He's determination and spirit was different. A brighter flare, he had.

The others were cheering for a strange looking man, quite obese. He was large with strange looking eyes and brown hair. He wears a large cowboy hat, with a yellow stripe and a teal gem on the front. He also wears a sleeveless jacket, with small ribbons on his chest, as well as a hazel shirt underneath. He also wears teal pants, with a belt with a yellow buckle, underneath his large brown ones, as well as a pair of dark shoe.

Judging by his appearance, he has the serious attitude of an industrious and time-constrained company owner.

"Palpitoad is no longer able to battle! Gym leader Clay, please send out your last Pokemon!" instructed the referee.

"Givin' up's the easy way out! If I wanted, I could have given up any old time! Excadrill, you're up!"

<Exca!>

We watched by the fourth row. I scanned the Pokemon, realizing it had been quite a while since I used my Pokedex.

[Excadrill! The Subterrene Pokemon! A ground and steel type. Known as the Drill King, this Pokémon can tunnel through the terrain at speeds of over 90 mph.]

"Lefeon, keep up the pace! Solar Beam!"

<Leafeon!>The Pokemon started gathering energy.

"Let's give the audience one hella of time, Rapid Spin!"

<Exca!>Excadrill furled itself and drilled its way to Leafeon while floating in mid air.

Leafeon was unable to dodge due to storing energy.

"Now! This our chance, unleash the Solar Beam!"

"Dig!"

<Exca!>Excadrill dug to dodge the attack.

"Careful-- Ah?!"

Unable to finish his sentences, Excadrill emerged out and punctured Leafeon's jaws.

"It's fast. I didn't expect it to be that fast."

"Leafeon is unable to battle. Trainer Logan, send out your final Pokemon!"

"Looks like someone's sweating," teased Virgo.

"It's hot down here!"

"I wonder why?"

"Will you stop?" I pushed her shoulder.

"Fine... Fine..."

"Sinnoh's victor, I wonder what Pokemon Logan will use next," said Dawn.

"Either Gallade or Lucario."

"Alright, come out, Gallade!"

"Knew it,"

"How come you memorize every move he makes next, Luna?" asked Dawn.

"I don't know, I just know."

"A Psychic type? I see, you're goin' all in on me, aren't you? Ha! Ha! I won't go easy. Excadrill, use Dig again!"

"Neither will we! Gallade, Psychic!"

"And Excadrill gets lifted from the ground." I predicted.

My predictions were correct. Excadrill was lifted. The foe was then pushed to the wall followed by stones hitting it.

<Gallade!> He let out his battle cry.

Unexpectedly, Gardevoir jumped out of her Pokeball and blocked my view of Logan and Gallade.

"When did you become interested in Gallade?" I asked Gardevior.

It was as if Gardevoir didn't hear a word I said. She continued on watching, cheering for Gallade.

"You know, you and Logan--"

"Don't finish it." I interrupted Virgo.

"Look at Gar--"

"Don't get her involved too."

"Okay. I'm just helping you avoid solitude in the future!"

"I'm 19."

"At least you're no longer a teenager."

"Generally, I still am."

"Now, Sword Dance!"

Gallade's attack rose sharply.

"Hit it with all your might, Focus Blast!"

A sphere emerged, a bright orange one. I moved to a spot where I could witness it, leaning forward.

Excadrill flinched and watched the shining sphere heading towards it. Focus Blast sounds like a strong move. That reminds me, I wonder what technical machine Madam Boss's secretary gave me.

"Excadrill is no longer able to battle! The winner is Trainer Logan and Gallade!"

"Mrrrmph. I see. But I sure don't like it! Fer such a young 'un, ya have an imposin' battle style. I know ya got people who can dig up yer potential. Mrmph. Here! Take this!So this is yer fifth Badge, huh?"

I didn't understand what he said, but eh? Seems like another happy ending for Logan to me.

We waited for him outside the arena. He didn't expect to see Dawn nor me nor Virgo. Though he was glad when he saw the three of us. Virgo pushed my shoulder, alerting me, as if I was blind and couldn't see Logan approaching us. I do not have any clue where this whole hysteria is coming from in the first place. My friends just saw me with him, and there they get the impression.

"Dawn? I didn't expect you to be here in the Unova Region," said Logan.

"And I didn't expect you to have five badges already. Well, the league is coming close, so I guess that's an improvement."

"Right, I'm a bit left behind."

He looked to me and Virgo. "So, the two of you must be having another day-off? You should've told me right before the gym match began."

"We kinda arrived late," said I.

"At the posters, it said the gym was around nine."

"About that, it started at eight."

"That explains why we only got a piece of action."

"Anyway. Mind coming with us?" offered Dawn.

"Come where?"

"Mistralton City. I've got to do some errands for Virgo." I looked to her. "And no matter how much she teases me, I'm willing to do those errands because I'm a good friend," I said sarcastically.

She tee-heed.

"Mistralton City? What for?"

"Team Plasma. Those crooks are at it again."

"If it's a Team Plasma situation, then I'm in! Mistralton City is far from Driftveil though."

"Not quite," said that cowboy accent. We turned to a tree and saw Clay leaning there, his mouth playing with a straw.

"Wanna now ma secret? There's a cave, known as Chargestone Cave. I suggest ya'll take that route and you'll be there in the city before the dead of night. A little warning, Chargestone's a danger zone. Got electrified twenty times if I remember correctly."

"Chargestone Cave it is!" Dawn said enthusiastically.

"Hehe, ya'll don't know what you're up for. But eh? A little sting is the point of adventure. Do be careful of the Shadow Triad. Heard from the witnesses they were there."

"Shadow what now?"

"Ta-ta!" waved the gym leader, exiting the scene.