From: RobfromVoid <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> Subject: [PW!] Robert ends his journey. Date: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 7:10 PM Robert marches beyond large white columns to the giant doors of the Viridian City Pokemon Center, Rilli at his side and holding a Clefairy Pokédoll. Robert's Gengar floats behind Robert, Rilli's Haunter at his side and holding an egg. When they arrive at the doors, Robert places his arm in front of Rilli and says, "What you see in this Gym might shock you. I came here just two days ago and the building was almost in ruins. Watch your step, there are holes everywhere..." Gengar and Haunter laugh together at Robert and Rilli's inability to hover! Gengar grins and points at Rilli, while nudging Haunter with his new elbow, "Gargen Gar." Haunter laughs, then transfers her violet egg to only one hand while using the other to point at Robert and say, "Haunter Haunt... Haunter Haunt Haunter?! Haw haw haw haw!" Rilli looks shocked at what her Pokemon just said about Robert. Gengar nods, chuckling, and points at Rilli again, "Gengar Gar Gen Gar Gengar!" "They are not!" Robert shakes his fist at his zany purple Gengar and taps the first Pokeball on his belt, "Watch your manners, Gengar, or else you're going back into the Pokeball!" Gengar wraps his stubby ghostly arms around the Haunter carrying his unborn child and tears flow from his eyes. Robert's male Ghost Pokemon pleads in an emotional scene while violin music plays from the nether world, "Gengar... Gen Gengar. GAAAR!" Robert sighs, "Okay, you can stay outside, but be quiet while we're inside the Gym. I need to concentrate during this match. If I don't win this battle, I'm giving up and heading home." "What?" Rilli's jaw drops a little, but before she can argue, Robert tosses open the doors of the Viridian City Gym and heads inside, followed by the ghostly couple of Gengar, Haunter, and their egg. Mithril-rama runs into the Gym and she notices that the place has no holes anywhere on the walls or floors - in fact, it looks much cleaner than most Gyms. She looks at Robert who seems equally confused. Rilli asks, "I thought you said this Gym was in shambles just the other day." "It was." The voice is not Robert's. It belongs to a strange middle-aged man dressed in a red suit who is sitting at a chair on an elevated podium, stroking the Persian lying on his lap. The man explains, "Your friend wasn't lying. This place was destroyed, but I made arrangements to have it repaired. I believe that I haven't met you yet, young lady. Are you a friend of Robert's?" Mithril-rama nods and says, "Yes, I'm his girlfriend. My name's Rilli, and I've never been to this Gym before, at least not the inside. People actually rebuilt this place during Christmas vacation? You must have really dedicated contractors!" "The members of my... private company, yes, insist on working for me on holidays." The man smirks and says, "My name is Giovanni, miss. I am the Viridian City Gym Leader. Robert fought me once and lost. I imagine he has come back to try his luck a second time?" Giovanni turns his attention away from Rilli to Robert. The spiky-haired teenager who needs an Earth Badge to complete his quest nods. Giovanni smiles, "Heh. Well then, we will have a four on four match. Get ready." Giovanni motions to the guards standing at the doors who exclaim simultaneously, "You will use four Pokemon, no time limit. Let the battle begin!" After saying this, the guards head outside to block anyone who would attempt to enter during the match. Robert's Gengar pulls a large dark sofa out of nothingness and plops it on Robert's side of the Arena. He and his girlfriend hover over the couch. Haunter rests her head on Gengar's shoulder, impressed that he has shoulders. When Gengar was a Haunter, he was just like her. Now he is different, and this attracts her even more to her boy toy! Gengar sensually sticks his tongue in Haunter's ear, and Haunter returns the favor, but Gengar gets paralyzed stiff... everywhere! Rilli runs over to the ghosts to halt their makeout session before it gets too sadomasochistic, "Stop that, Haunter. Let's watch the match!" Giovanni grins when Robert takes his place at the line on the other end of the Arena. "I'll start off from where you finished, Robert." Without even standing up from his throne, an action that would annoy the Persian resting on his lap, Giovanni reaches into his scarlet coat's jacket, withdraws a Pokeball, and lets it snap open in his hand. The red light that is released finds its way to the Arena in front of Giovanni's podium and forms into a big, fat Nidoqueen who raises both her arms and snarls! Robert looks at his belt. The first Pokeball is empty. The second one contains Cubone, who is too little to go up against such a giant beast. The Safari Ball on the third slot is wobbling about, as if the Pokemon inside is trying to break out. The Ultra Ball next to it contains Snorlax, who is weak to Nidoqueen's Double Kick attack. The fifth is the home of Slowbro - who has both Psychic and Water attacks, which defeat Poison and Ground Pokemon, respectively. Nidoqueen is both types. Robert nods, snaps the Pokeball off his belt, and throws it onto the Arena. The Slowbro forms, takes a moment to realize who his opponent is, and rubs his cheeks when he remembers the vicious Double Kicks that Giovanni's Nidoqueen hit him in the jaw with last time. "Bro?" Even the symbiotic Shellder attached to Slowbro's tail can still feel the pain that Slowbro experienced that day. Giovanni chuckles quietly, "Heh. You forgot about my Nidoqueen's Thunder attack already? I'm sure that your Golduck hasn't. Nidoqueen, let's jog his memory - Thunder!" Sparks gather around her Grounded Poisonous body, "Queeeen!" "I didn't forget." Robert shakes his head and explains, "Last time, Slowbro was weak from having fought the Karate Master's Hitmonlee and Sabrina's Alakazam. Now he's well rested and ready to get his vengeance on Nidoqueen! Slowbro, Confusion!" Slowbro stares with his usual blank face at Nidoqueen as the sparks she emits soar up over his head. The lethargic Pokemon opens his mouth wide and... yawns. A bolt of Thunder comes crashing down from the ceiling onto his body, shocking Slowbro and Shellder alike! When the Thunder attack is over, Slowbro is wobbling around more than usual. Nidoqueen stares at the Pokemon, expecting him to faint. Slowbro wobbles, but he doesn't fall down. Instead, his eyes open wider than normal and release Confusion waves that both injure and Confuse the Nidoqueen who didn't look away in time... Giovanni strokes his Persian angrily, and the feline meows in pain! The Gym Leader orders, "Nidoqueen, another Thunder." Robert gasps, knowing that one more Thunder will defeat Slowbro. The Pokemon Trainer orders, "Slowbro, Surf attack!" Nidoqueen raises up her arms again, trying to fight the Confusion in her mind. "Queen?" She clenches her claws, but no sparks appear around her. Instead, she starts clawing at her head and banging her tail against the ground, trying to shake off the Confusion, only managing to hurt herself. When the Nidoqueen is Confused no more, she raises her arms up high to attempt the Thunder attack again, but stops when she feels rain hitting her body, causing her pain. The Nidoqueen's suffering is increased greatly when Slowbro and the Shellder on his tail both spew out huge blasts of water at her part-Ground body! She digs the claws on her feet onto the ground, trying her best to stay standing through the entire Surf attack... and she does, though she's weakened considerably by the time that the flow of water is cut off. Nidoqueen glances up at Giovanni for further orders. "Heh. It looks like I win this round." Giovanni rubs his Persian's back gently now, "Slowbro is too slow to Confuse Nidoqueen before she can attack. Speaking of which, Nidoqueen: one more Thunder, and *don't* screw up this time." The Nidoqueen nods and faces Slowbro, who is smiling like he usually is. She raises her arms and sparks appear around her body again! "Most Slowbro would be too slow..." Robert watches as the sparks fly accumulate near the ceiling, about to hit Slowbro with the Thunder attack that will certainly cause him to faint, "...but mine won a racing contest. Slowbro, Swift!" Before the Nidoqueen's Thunder attack hits, Slowbro snaps into action! The moment that Robert gives the order, Slowbro spews Swift stars from his mouth at Nidoqueen while swinging his tail at her. The Shellder on his tail adds force to the stellar attack by spitting out stars too, until the Nidoqueen drops to the floor, fainted. Slowbro leaps out of danger's way seconds before the Thunder hits! After performing the incredible dodge, Slowbro slows down again, exhausted, but still willing to fight! Giovanni digs his nails into his Persian's thick light yellow coat, and the cat hisses. Giovanni recalls Nidoqueen and switches her Pokeball for a similar one. "The male of the species is often stronger than the female." The Pokeball pops open and when the released energy gathers on the Pokemon battle field, a huge Nidoking stands there, possibly the Nidoqueen's mate. The Nidoking snarls, much louder than the Nidoqueen, and glares at the panting Slowbro on the other side of the Arena, guessing that if he has been called out, Nidoqueen has been defeated. "King! NIDOKING!" Giovanni grins when he looks at Robert's Pokemon, "Your Slowbro looks very tired, Robert. This calls for another humiliation. Nidoking, Double Kick!" "King... KING!" The Nidoking stomps over towards where Slowbro is standing. The Shellder on Slowbro's tail closes its eyes and bites harder onto Slowbro's tail, fearing the worst. Slowbro sits idly smiling as the Nidoking approaches, unaware of the impending pain he's going to cause. Robert knows that Slowbro can't possibly perform Swift again since he's so tired, and orders a less physically oriented move, "Slowbro, Confusion!" Slowbro stands there doing nothing when the Nidoking reaches him. Nidoking raises one leg and roundhouse kicks Slowbro twice in the jaw, then a third time on the Shellder! Two more well places kicks in the stomach later, Slowbro falls face forward to the floor, his eyes still wide open. Nidoking looks down at the fallen Slowbro's eyes, waiting for his eyelids to fall, but they don't. Instead, his wide open eyes release dark Confusion waves, similar to the ones that hurt Nidoqueen. Much like his female counterpart, Nidoking is injured and Confused by the attack! "That again?!" Giovanni clenches his teeth while clenching his kitty's fur, an action that annoys the Persian, "Nidoking, Double Kick him while he's down." Nidoking nods and raises his leg like the Karate Kid. He slams his clawed foot onto Slowbro's forehead! His leg remains raised after the first kick. Nidoking does kick Slowbro a second time, but with the leg that isn't raised. Since both of his legs are in the air, Nidoking comes crashing down, hurting himself in the Confusion, making him unable to perform any more kicks... but it doesn't matter, since Slowbro fainted after the seventh kick! Robert grabs Slowbro's Pokeball off the floor and recalls the fainted Pokemon. Robert narrows his eyes at Giovanni's Nidoking, who has managed to stand up, "You like kicks, huh? In that case, Hitmonchan, I choose you!" Robert grabs the Pokeball in the sixth slot on his belt and throws it angrily at the Nidoking's forehead! Since Robert is a horrible pitcher, the Pokeball drops behind Nidoking before snapping open, releasing a humanoid Fighting Pokemon wearing a purple dress, but no shoes. The Hitmonchan's feet resemble a Hitmonlee's. She waves a gloved hand at Robert and smiles, "Monchan!" Giovanni raises an eyebrow, "How were you able to earn the Volcano Badge pinned on your shirt with such lack of general knowledge? HitmonLEE is the Kicking Fiend. Hitmonchan throws punches. Don't you know your own Pokemon's abilities?" "I don't know much about my Hitmonchan, since this is the first time I've used her in battle..." Robert nods to his Hitmonchan, who nods back. Robert continues, "...but I do know one of her abilities that makes her unique. Hitmonchan, Mega Kick!" Giovanni smirks at the absurdity, "Mega Kick? That's Hitmonlee's attack! Hitmonchan learns Mega PUNCH. Get it right." Hitmonchan glances up at Giovanni and glares at him for belittling her trainer's intelligence, the trainer who chose her when no one else would, then faces Nidoking's back. The Nidoking hasn't seen her yet, so he is still looking at Robert, waiting for his next opponent. Hitmonchan leaps off the floor, pushing off towards Nidoking's dorsal. She puts her two feet forward as she flies towards the Nidoking... The Mega Kick ends up hitting him on the rear end, which sends Nidoking crashing to the ground! Hitmonchan continues to jump up and down on his back, careful not to hop onto one of his spikes, until the beast faints. Robert is amazed with his newest Pokemon's skills, "Wow, Hitmonchan really kicks butt!" Hitmonchan continues walking back and forth on the Nidoking's back, raising up her gloves to celebrate her victory, "Hey, it looks like she's a chiropractor, too!" Hitmonchan's personal victory parade ends when Giovanni recalls the Nidoking from under her bare feet. Hitmonchan faces Giovanni and raises her fists at him, standing ready for another opponent, "Monchan. Hitmonchan! Chan!" One of Giovanni's eyes twitches along with the fingers that he is holding his Persian with. Giovanni's Persian gets irritated that his master keeps taking out his frustrations on his beautiful coat, so he leaps out of Giovanni's lap, straight onto the Arena. Giovanni calls out, "No, Persian, come back here this instant!" The Persian shakes his head and licks his paws. "You can't call back a Pokemon once you've sent one out!" Robert argues, remembering the Pokemon League rules, "You're stuck with Persian, Giovanni..." Robert then coaches his Fighting Pokemon from the sidelines, "Hitmonchan, you have to defeat this overgrown kitty to gain the experience that you need to learn an elemental punch. I know you can do it!" Hitmonchan looks at her currently purposeless red gloves and wipes a tear from her face. She nods with a smile, "Monchan." Robert smiles when he sees that he has another loyal Pokemon he can depend upon, "Hitmonchan, Mega Kick that Persian!" Giovanni clenches his fist, remembering the League's Rules, which he loathes with a passion, "Your freak Hitmonchan was able to hit Nidoking because he's slow, but my Persian's has the fastest claws in the west! Persian, Double Team!" "Monchan!" Hitmonchan leaps into the air again, this time pushing herself towards the putty tat, feet appearing to catch on fire from the speed. But Giovanni's Persian, the quicker of the two Pokemon, creates two clones of himself. Hitmonchan looks left to right to determine which is the real Persian. Though she realizes that the real one is the Persian to the left, she can't change her Mega Kick's course, so she breaks the middle Persian, continues forward, and slams onto Giovanni's podium! Robert scratches his head, wondering how the Persian attacked first though Giovanni gave the order to attack later than him. He watches as Hitmonchan stumbles to her feet and rubs the back of her head with her fist. Robert says, "If only there was some way for Hitmonchan to be quicker, like when Farfetch'd used Agility to win against Surge's Raichu. Oh, Hitmonchan, if only you knew Agility. The Karate Master just said that you knew Mega Kick..." Hitmonchan places her gloves on her forehead to think, and remembers that she actually is able to use Agility. She throws two phantom punches, then starts running laps around the Arena. The real Persian and his remaining clone look confused about Hitmonchan's newfound speed. Giovanni notices his Persian's confusion and instructs the Pokemon, "Persian, Slash!" The Persians raise one paw each, and sling out their large claws at the same time, readying the powerful Slash attack. They both purr, ready to strike, "Perrrsian." "Hitmonchan, Mega Kick!" Robert shouts at the Hitmonchan that zooms in front of him every couple of seconds as she runs laps around the Arena. Hitmonchan suddenly leaps up into the air and flies over towards the real Persian! Since Hitmonchan's the faster of the two Pokemon after her performing Agility move, her attack hits first! Hitmonchan's foot slams into the Persian's jaw, knocking him into his clone! The crash makes the clone disappear. The remaining Persian stands up, leaps up towards Hitmonchan, and Slashes at her face with both claws! Hitmonchan covers her clawed face with her gloves, "CHAN!" Giovanni grins at his advantage - he can tell when his Persian does a Critical Hit, and he realizes that the Slash was Critical. The Gym Leader goes to stroke his Persian, forgetting that the cat isn't in his lap, and strokes himself instead, "Fury Swipes!" Robert figures that the only way Hitmonchan can avoid the attack is by running away, "Hitmonchan, more Agility!" Hitmonchan focuses on increasing her speed while Persian wraps one of his paws around her ankle. When Robert's Hitmonchan uses Agility, she trips and falls face forward! Persian hops onto her back and Swipes away at her purple dress Furiously, leaving lacerations on her usually concealed back. When Persian hops off her back, Hitmonchan can't move. She has fainted. Robert sighs, runs onto the Arena to grab her Pokeball, and recalls her. He smiles at the Pokeball and tells the fainted Pokemon within, "You did really well for your first battle..." He puts the Pokeball back on the sixth slot on his belt. The victorious Persian raises his paw up to his jaw where Hitmonchan's foot connected since it hurts so bad, "Sian." "Your Persian's claws defeated Hitmonchan because she's so frail..." Robert reaches for the Ultra Ball on his belt, "...but those claws will seem like a spork to my next Pokemon. Snorlax, I choose..." Before Robert can even snap the Ultra Ball off his belt, the Safari Ball on his belt pops open! The red energy rapidly shoots onto the Arena floor, releasing an enraged brown bull with three tails, hooves stomping wildly, nose snorting uncontrollably, "Taoooorus! Russ! TAUROS!!!" Robert doesn't even know what happened until he remembers that Safari Balls are ridiculously weak and break open easily, "This works too, I guess... Tauros, Stomp that Persian right on his forehead!" Tauros examines his opponent's face, and sees a small red jewel on the feline's forehead. Tauros' eyes twitch, his tails whipping about angrily, "TAOOOOOROS! RUS, RUS, RUSS!" Giovanni notices the Tauros' intense anger and knows that if he doesn't act fast, his Persian will lose, "Persian, Double Team!" Persian concentrates on the difficult task of making it appear that he is in three places at once, but before he is able to create the clones of himself, Tauros Stomps a hoof right onto the red jewel on the Persian's forehead! Persian falls to the floor, flinching uncontrollably, unable to concentrate on his attack. Giovanni immediately gives another order, "Persian, Slash!" "Tauros, Strength!" Robert shouts, remembering the technique that he taught his bull in Fuschia City. By the time Robert shouts this, Tauros already decided to use a Strength attack on his own. The raging bull Pokemon snarls and slams both hooves onto the fallen Persian's back! The psychotic Tauros continues to slam his Strengthened hooves onto the Persian's face, even after the Pokemon faints, then tries to ram one of his horns into the jewel to destroy it. Giovanni recalls his Persian and kisses the gold Pokeball, "Don't worry, Persian, I'll heal you right after the match. This will teach you not to jump into an Arena in the middle of a match without an order to do so. Now, for my strongest Pokemon." He places the Pokeball in his red vest and withdraws his own Safari Ball. Without even pushing the button, the Safari Ball pops open and red energy rushes onto the Arena to form into Tauros' next opponent - a huge Rhydon, who has no rage-inspiring red on its body. The Rhyhorn stretches out stiff muscular arms while stomping in Tauros' direction, "Rhhyyydon! RHYDON!" "Tauros, Stomp back!" Robert calls out to his Tauros. The bull Pokemon doesn't quite recognize the Rhydon, but he reminds him of a Rhyhorn that always used to eat his food in the Safari Zone. The hatred for that Rhyhorn gives the bull the courage to attack the Rhydon, even though the Rock hard creature is much larger than he is! "Taooo!" Tauros charges, horns lowered, until he rams his head into the Rhydon, who doesn't even flinch. Tauros Stomps the Rhyhorn's clawed foot, but the Rhyhorn just shrugs. Rhydon looks up at Giovanni to be told the proper way to dispose of the bull. Giovanni commands an Earthquake, and Rhydon obeys. The earth shaking attack sends Tauros toppling to the ground. Rhydon follows through with an excessive Stomp. Tauros flinches for a second before fainting on the spot. Rhydon kicks the fainted bull's body over to Robert... Robert calls Tauros back into his Safari Ball and puts the defective sphere back on his belt. He looks back at Rilli, who is standing next to the couch where Gengar and Haunter are still shaking from the Rhydon's Earthquake. Robert shouts, "What do I send out, Rilli? Gengar is weak to Ground attacks and Snorlax's Normal attacks won't hurt the Rhydon!" Mithril-rama tries to remember which Pokemon Robert has, then replies, "You're right about Gengar and Snorlax, which means that your only choice is Cubone... I think Rhydon is part Rock, so Cubone's Bone Club should be super effective!" Giovanni grows impatient with Robert and shouts, "Send out your next Pokemon in thirty seconds or you're disqualified!" Robert pulls the second Pokeball off his belt. He looks at it and remembers the first day of his Journey. He sent Cubone out against Sabrina's Mr. Mime and the poor little Pokemon didn't stand a chance. "Ever since that day you lost against Sabrina, I've never let you participate in another official Gym Battle. Now's your chance. Depending on whether you win or lose, I finish my Journey as a winner or I finish my Journey as a loser. I'm counting on you, Cubone." Robert drops his Pokeball on the floor a few seconds before being disqualified, and a small bone-helmet-wearing Ground Pokemon appears on the Arena - Robert's Cubone. The unevolved Pokemon looks up at the moving tower of Rock before him and backs away, "Cubone?!" "RHYDON!" Rhydon, not one to laugh at another opponent, knowing that it surely means his doom, stomps forward towards the Cubone. Every time his hoof hits the Arena floor, Cubone hops involuntarily. Cubone stands with his Bone Club about to fall from his hand, like a Rapidash caught in the headlights of a car. Giovanni grins and says, "Rhydon, let's see if we can't break that skull off his head by weakening the little guy first. Use Leer!" Rhydon nods and looks down at Cubone, eyes crossed. Even the Rhydon's silly looking Leering face scares Cubone, so he sits down to cry like the infant that he is. Robert sheds some tears too, realizing that he's going to end as a loser, the same way that he started. He half-heartedly says, "Cubone, Bone Club." He is certain that Cubone will be too paralyzed with fear to actually do this. Cubone looks back at the voice that just spoke and sees through his own tears that his trainer is crying... "Bone? Bone?" Cubone remembers when Robert told him that they were alike. He remembers how Robert treated him like a friend and introduced him to Rilli's Pokemon. Cubone stands up and courageously runs underneath Rhyhorn's legs, something a taller Pokemon would not be able to do. The brave little Pokemon holds his club like a bat and Bone Clubs the Rhydon in one of his only tender spots - his groin! Rhydon's crossed eyes get crossed further as he falls backwards like a chopped tree. Robert shouts, "Timber!" "That's not funny!" Giovanni snorts, watching as his Rhydon flails his limbs in an attempt to get up, "Stand up and Tackle that Cubone into submission! Heck, you could defeat that Pokemon with a Finger Flick attack, just get up!" Rhydon wants to obey his master, but his body is way too huge and heavy to lift on his own. Robert wipes away some tears when he realizes that Rhydon's fallen and he can't get up. Robert shouts, "Cubone, Bone Club again!" Cubone nods, hops onto Rhydon's belly, and walks up to his face. He lifts up his Bone Club. Giovanni commands, "Rhydon, Horn Attack!" Rhydon lifts his head to swipe at his opponent with his horn, but Cubone smashes his Bone Club against the Rhyhorn's face, causing the giant beast to flinch! Rhydon's head falls back, hitting the Arena floor again. Robert shouts another time, "Cubone, one more Bone Club!" Cubone winds up his Bone Club like a bat, then hits Rhydon on the horn, knocking it clear off! Rhydon opens his eyes, tilts his head up to notice that his horn is missing, and faints from the shock, knocking his head against the floor a third time! "Cubone?" Robert's jaw falls open from the shock. The eyes visible through Cubone's skull helmet show the same amount of, if not more, surprise. Cubone himself asks, "Cubone?" Giovanni narrows his eyes and murmurs, "Cubone." Mithril-rama smiles and breaks into laughter of joy, happy to see Robert win! "Robert!" She runs over to him and gives him a big hug, "Seeing you win your last Gym battle is the best birthday present!" Mithril-rama kisses Robert, who is still frozen in disbelief. Giovanni climbs down from his podium with an Earth Badge in his hand. "You really are an excellent Pokemon trainer, and for that, I present you this Earth Badge." He takes Robert's limp hand and shakes it, then pins the small green leaf on Robert's shirt, right next to the Marsh Badge. Giovanni pats Robert on the shoulder and says, "I could use your kind of competence in my... private company... so if you're ever interested in a job, look me up. Once again, I congratulate you on your victory." Giovanni recalls Rhydon, walks up to a wall, pulls a hidden switch, and leaves through a secret passageway. Mithril-rama waves her hand in front of Robert's face. He hasn't even looked at his last Badge yet, "Robert? Are you okay?" "YESSSSS!!! AHHH HA HA HA HA! I DID IT! I DID IT!!!" Robert hugs Rilli, then hugs clear through his Gengar, then lifts his Cubone up high and spins around in a circle! He dances around, then looks down at his shirt, now complete with all eight Badges, "I set out to earn all eight Badges, and that's just what I did! I DID IT! I trained a variety of Pokemon and I earned all eight Badges... I EARNED THEM... myself! Each and every one of them! My Journey is over, and I'm finally a WINNER!" Robert kisses Cubone on his skull helmet, then puts him down, "Not just that, I'm a winner with a girlfriend who helped me be a winner! Rilli, Rilli, Rilli, Mithril-rama! Don't you know what this means?! I'm eligible to become a Pokemon Master!" Robert looks like he's about to hyperventilate from joy. Rilli pats him on the back with a huge smile, "I know, Robert, I know!" Robert drops to one knee and grabs Rilli's hand, "Rilli, I've been waiting for the right time to ask this... and right now, thousands of emotions running through my body, I think it's the right time... No, I KNOW it's the right time to ask you..." Mithril-rama's heart starts to beat just as fast as Robert's when Robert says this, but tries to stay calm, "Yes, Robert?" Robert takes a deep breath then asks, "Will you settle down in Lavender Town to breed with me?!" "I d-Huh?!" Mithril-rama looks confused, as if she was expecting Robert to ask something else, "What do you mean?" Robert stands up and scratches the back of his head, "Well, I didn't know when to tell you, but for a while now, I've been thinking of creating a Gym back in Lavender Town since there are no Gyms in my home town and since my house is there and your house is there and we can settle down there... I'm probably one of the few people from Lavender who has earned all eight Badges, at least I haven't heard of others. I think that with that kind of qualifications, the Pokemon League will fund the creation of my unofficial Gym, along with my parents, and maybe your parents if you say yes, not that you have to say yes, but I really think that you should because we've been spending all this time together, it only makes sense that we settle down together at the same time. Sure, you still need to do your research, but you can do it at the Gym if you want! I want to create my Gym because I think this world needs a Gym where someone uses a Variety of Pokemon, and I think that I'm just the guy to make one, since I have almost all the Types of Pokemon except for Ice, Dragon, and Bug, and we all know why I don't have Bug, but maybe I can get Dragon and Ice Pokemon, but it's still pretty good to have all other types except for those... How many types is that? Twelve? I don't remember! But anyway, I can make a Gym in Lavender Town and call it the Diversity Gym and give out Oasis Badges since Lavender Town is an oasis for people coming from the Rock Tunnel and since an oasis has a variety of weather conditions coexisting in one place. I'd have to think of the Gym's design, but I asked you if you'd like to breed there with me since I was inspired by the egg that Haunter had to run a breeding center where people leave their male and female Pokemon with us and we breed them and give them their egg when its laid and maybe even have a place where Pokemon can get married which I thought about when you said that we should get Gengar and Haunter to get married and..." Robert stops when he notices the dizziness in Rilli's eyes. He grabs her shoulders, shakes her, and asks, "Will you, Rilli?!" Mithril-rama rubs the side of her head, trying to figure out what Robert was rambling about, "You want to create a Gym in Lavender Town and you want my help with it?" Robert nods eagerly. Rilli giggles, "Of course I'll help, Robert! I've told you a bunch of times... I'll go wherever you go. If it means ending my Research Journey, it doesn't matter, since I wouldn't feel right being without you. Let's head back our houses in Lavender Town and figure this all out after you calm down." "Oh, Rilli, I'm so happy you said yes!" Robert grins so wide that you can almost see all his teeth, "I wouldn't feel right without you, either! But you're right, we should go back home! Let's take the long way; I feel like jogging! C'mon, Cubone, my hero, I'm carrying you back home to Lavender Town!" Robert hefts a happy Cubone into his arms and runs out of the Gym, Rilli jogging after him, followed by a Gengar and a Haunter who is carrying an egg that's starting to wiggle. -Robert