Why did he do that? I washed my tear stained face off with water from the creek I was kneeling at. After I took Darumaka to the Center, I just kept running onto the nearby route, and into Lostlorn Forest. I'd talked to Audino after I gave the fire type to Nurse Joy, and asked her to take care of Darumaka, but that I would be back soon.

How could he do that to me?! I was beginning to trust him! I guess his alliance really is with Team Plasma. I can't believe I was so foolish. Foolish to think we maybe we could be friends.

Dewott let himself out of his pokéball to stand next to me, paw on my shoulder.

~I can't believe he had the nerve to do such a thing,~ he growled. I only let more silent tears fall.

"I... Can't believe I let myself think I could trust him..." I mumbled.

I heard hooves approaching. Black and white pokémon galloping. It was a herd of Zebstrika and some Blitzles. Near the end of the herd, a much smaller Blitzle stumbled onto its face.

~Owie!~ she cried loudly. A zebstrika quickly turned back from the front of the herd to help her foal up.

~Do be careful, sweetheart. ~

~Yes, Mama.~ Her mother returned to the lead; but the little Blitzle only fell again. This time, forcing the rest behind her to stop. The lead Zebstrika, a male, reared and trotted before the little zebra pokémon.

~You clumsy foal! THAT IS IT!! I am kicking you out of this herd!~ he screeched. The little Blitzle scurried on her feet as her mother came to her side.

~Don't be so hard on her, Jupiter. She's a baby!~ Jupiter, the male Leader, shook his muzzle.

~I'm sorry, Felecity; but I can't keep stopping the herd just because little Glitter can't walk straight! Not to mention, we have to keep rescuing her because she stands out with her strange coloring. ~ Felecity stomped her hooves.

~Then I'm staying with her! ~

~No! The herd needs you, Felecity. You're among the strongest of us. ~

Saddened, she nuzzled Glitter, tears in her eyes. ~Mama loves you, Glitter. Always.~ The baby looked at her with large eyes.

~Are you... really going to leave me...?~

~I'm so sorry, sweetheart. So, so sorry... ~The rest of the herd started to leave. ~I have no choice. Be strong.~ Felecity turned and galloped away to rejoin the herd. The Blitzle, Glitter, stared after the herd... Her family... Who left her.

Suddenly I wiped the last of my tears away. I shouldn't be crying. My problem seemed so miniscule when I compared it to what just happened to Blitzle.

~Mama! Come back!~ Glitter cried. ~I'm sorry, I won't fall again! Please... Just come back...~ She sat on her haunches and cried. Poor Blitzle...
I found myself making my way to the foal. She jumped up, unusually green eyes wide with surprise. Then she tried to run off.

"Shh; I'm not going to hurt you, Glitter. It's okay."

~You're human. Jupiter said humans are bad,~ she whimpered. ~And why are you calling me Glitter? That's what Mama named me. But you couldn't know that...~ She pawed the dirt nervously.

"I saw everything. And heard everything." I can't believe Jupiter kicked a baby out of his own herd. Then he forced her mother to abandon her own foal. I get that Glitter was slowing down the herd, but they didn't have to leave her to fend for herself.

She snuffled quietly. ~Jupiter never said there were humans who can understand pokéspeech.~ I pet her forelock gently. The gentle pulse of electricity throbbed beneath her hair.

"I don't think Jupiter knew much about other species. He acted like his only job was to watch out for his herd." Glitter nodded.

~Maybe you're right.... But what do I do now?~ Dewott had been so quiet.

~Corona, she's only a baby. She won't survive on her own. Not when she's a shiny Pokémon. She'd make easy prey. Please, let's take her with us~ the Discipline Pokémon requested urgently.
"Okay. I'll ask her first though," I replied. I pull out an empty pokéball. I asked Glitter, "do you want to come with me? I can make sure you aren't in your ball for the most part, but it would be safer for you than out in the wilderness..."
Glitter responded only by pushing her nose against the button on the capsule. She was absorbed into the light, and the pokéball clicked. I then let her out.

"We're partners now, Glitter." I introduced her to the otter. "This is Dewott. I'm Corona. Another member of our group is recovering from a broken arm at the Center right now. His name is Darumaka." Glitter trotted to me and nuzzles my leg.

~You're the best, Corona!~ I'm still upset about that the thing with N, but my family has grown, and it isn't worth worrying about really. I just hope N sees Team Plasma for what they really are. Before they do something he regrets. I gathered up my things, and soon my partners and I left Lostlorn Forest.

We go back to the Pokémon Center to see how Darumaka was doing. Audino informed me his surgery was successful, and that his arm is as good as new. However, Nurse Joy did advise that he take it easy for a while.

"How are you?" I asked Darumaka. He grinned.

~Much better, really. Thank you.~

When I asked someone about the Gym, they said it was in the Amusement park. The roller coaster. I ignored the Ferris Wheel as we walked through the park. The memory was still too fresh for me. I entered the building with the roller coaster and returned all three of my Pokémon before taking my seat.

The coaster sped around the track, flipping several times. The Gym Leader, Elesa stood on a raised platform where the car stopped. She wore headphones over her blond hair, a yellow shirt, and tight, black pants.

"Welcome Challenger!" She said in a bubbly voice. I looked at my three pokémon nestled in their balls.

"Who wants to go first?" I whispered. Darumaka jerked his head. Glitter shook hers. I took Dewott's ball. "Sorry Glitter. Maybe when you have more experience."

"Are you ready for an electrifying battle?" Elesa asked. I nodded.

"Yes." I'm starting the battle against an electric type Gym Leader, with a water type. However, I had an idea. Before the battle begins, I pressed a Cherri berry and a Wiccan berry into the pouches around Dewott's waist.

"Begin!" Elesa sendt out Emolga. "Emolga, volt tackle!"

"Dodge, Dewott!" He bounded away long before she could get to him. "Good job! Now use Tail Whip!" Elesa crinkled her nose.

"That's such a beginner's move! Use something cool!"

"Tackle!" The blue otter hurled himself against Emolga, who took damage and cries.
"While he's close! Volt Switch!" At such close range, he couldn't avoid the attack. Sparks flew at Dewott, and he grunted. Emolga returned to the pokéball, trading places with another Emolga. Without my command, Dewott sprayed water at the dual type.

"What?" Elesa asked, startled. "Emolga has Static ability. Why didn't he become paralyzed?"

"Cherri berries cure paralysis," I pointed out. Her face fell.

"Oh well. That water Gun attack didn't do anything anyways."

Thanks to the Wiccan Berry, Dewott continued to fight for a while. After all, the berry reduced the power of electric type attacks. But it couldn't last. The emolgas kept switching in and out, and Dewott was limited to special attacks so that he wouldn't become paralyzed. Finally, a Thunderbolt from Emolga made him faint.

~Sorry, Corona. ~ I returned him.

"Don't worry; you did your best," I assured him. I looked at Darumaka's pokéball. "I told you I wouldn't make you fight unless you wanted to. So do you?" To my surprise, he nodded. So I tossed out his pokéball.

Immediately, he jumped at Emolga, who was hovering near the floor. He bared his teeth, and bit the elastic skin that allows her to glide. She shrieked with pain. Grounded, he curled into a ball and rolled over her. I didn't know Darumaka knew rollout. The attack's super effective, and Emolga fainted. One down.
"That was a surprise," Elesa remarked. "But it isn't over yet!" She sent out her other Emolga, who seemed a little tired.

"What other attacks do you know?" I asked Darumaka.

~Rollout, fire Fang, Tackle, headbutt, Fire Punch, and Flare Blitz.~

"Okay then. So use Flare Blitz, then Rollout- as fast as you can!" His body became enveloped with fire as he rushed at Emolga, then ran it over again. The flying squirrel fainted.

"The battle isn't over yet. I still have one last pokémon!" Elesa shouted as she sent out her final pokémon, Zebstrika.

"NOW! CHARGE!" she shouts. Electricity crackled around the zebra. "NOW THUNDERBOLT!" Thinking fast, Darumaka hardened into a ball to avoid the lightning, then twirled around to ram into Zebstrika's hind legs. He then climbed onto the zebra's belly. And bit down with fire. Fire Fang. Zebstrika screamed and squirmed.

Hanging on for dear life, Darumaka became enveloped with fire again, and slammed into the zebra, proceeding to punch him between the eyes with Fire Punch. Zebstrika shook him off, and kicked him. The zen charm pokémon fell flat on his face.

"Darumaka!" I quickly returned him.

Elesa sighed. "Do you have another pokémon, or do you forfeit?" I looked at Glitter's pokéball. If I quit, Darumaka and Dewott will have been hurt for nothing. But Glitter was only a baby, with no type advantage... Her blue eyes plead for me to give her a chance. So I sent her out. Elesa laughed.

"Your final pokémon is the first evolution of my Pokémon?! How do you expect to win?!"

Under my breath, I mutter, "I can't believe people actually look up to you. This whole mess, all you've done is make wise cracks about me and my Pokémon." She looked surprised.

"Wisecracks? No! I'm only encouraging you all!" She looked at her feet. "I suppose it did seem like that though. I'm sorry." Sure you are. Blitzle stared at Zebstrika with fear in her green eyes.
~He's so big...~ Zebstrika snorted.

~Like you'd stand a chance against me. Ha! I'm the biggest, strongest, handsomest Zebstrika around! That's why Elesa chose me. I'm....~ I face palm. Arceus, this pokémon has an inflated ego... I feel myself smile though when I see Glitter tip-toe to the back of Zebstrika while he's complimenting himself. Atta girl...

~-And I've won contests all over the world! If Lady Elesa weren't so good at being a Gym Leader, she would surely have made an exceptional Coordinator! After all, she has me as her partner...~ All this time, Glitter has been charging up energy in her horn. She's glowing. Come on Zebstrika, keep talking... Glitter was like a beacon now; shining brilliantly. Zebstrika finally turned to look at her. ~What the...!~

~Quick Attack!~ she shouted triumphantly. All any of us saw was a flash of blue light, and Zebstrika wobbled on his feet. The blue light zoomed around the battlefield; continuously slamming into Zebstrika.

Good girl, Glitter... Both pokémon are unaffected by electricity, and Zebstrika has already taken a lot of damage. But if Zebstrika uses his speed as well.... Glitter's going to get hurt.

The light surrounding Glitter seems to grow as she flashed around. The blue remains, but orange seems to pulsate as well now. Blazing... Like a fire. I realize what my shiny Blitzle is trying so hard to do when she charges at Zebstrika, who is now very tired from my previous pokémon, withstanding all these attacks, and the length of the battle. Honestly, I think Glitter would've fainted by now... If she hadn't had so much time to charge while Zebstrika was running his mouth.
As she galloped forward at lightening speed, flames surrounded the foal's entire body. The blue still pulsed brightly. I watched the youngest member of my team make impact on our opponent. For a moment, I was afraid that her Flame Charge wasn't as powerful as it looked. I let my breath go though when I saw Zebstrika's legs splay, and he collapsed on the floor of the battle field.

"And the Victor is the Challenger," Elesa murmured. With only a few words, she handed me the Bolt Badge and a roll of bills.

Walking away, the blond Nimbassa City Gym Leader turned to look at me. "Your name... You never told me."

"Corona," I said quickly. More politely, I added, "my name is Corona." Elesa nodded and turns away again.

"Well, Corona... Among the Gym Leaders, I am known as the Shining Beauty." She paused. "But today... That battle..." She looked at me again, her blue eyes wide and her mouth grinning.

"However, Corona, in that battle, it was you and your Pokémon, who were truly shining within the brightest glow I have ever seen."