[4] The Daughter of Nurse Joy: Hoenn Adventure

Fortree Gym

A few days after the Weather Institute incident with Team Aqua and Brodie, Cora decided to do some training with her Pokémon and Alain decided to help her. Once training was over, Tazer (Shiny Electrike) had evolved into Manectric which made him happy. Alain's Electrike into Manectric and Numel into Camerupt. 

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Today the gang had arrived at Fortree City, where Cora could earn her next gym badge. Fortree City was different from other cities because everyone lived in tree houses instead of buildings. Apparently, this city was one of those quiet forest settlements where humans and nature coexist. To Cora, Alain, Mairin, Ash and Brock this reminded them of Arborville in Johto because it was nearly the same as Fortree City.

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Cora and the gang headed for the Fortree Gym, which was a temple with a lot of steps. But the gym assistant, Zachary, explained that the gym leader Winona was helping out at the feather carnival. The feather carnival was an annual festival where the people of the city celebrated flying type Pokémon. Apparently flying Pokémon were the favorite Pokémon type of Fortree City. Cora didn't mind waiting for tomorrow to battle Winona; she had a fun time at the carnival, and it gave her enough time to figure out what Pokémon she would use for the gym battle. Not to mention that Cora and Alain decided to have a date during the carnival while Brock offered to look after May, Ash, Mairin and Max for them.

Cora knew that Winona uses flying type Pokémon, and she owned a Skarmory which was bigger than its normal size; it was big enough for people to ride on it. Winona was a woman, with lavender air, and the pale blue and white clothes she wore made her look like a pilot.

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The next day the whole carnival was over with, and Cora and Winona were at the gym for their battle. The battlefield was located at the top of the gym; it was outside instead of inside. Cora and Winona stood on elevated balconies about the battlefield.

Winona knelt down on one knee and prayed, "Oh great sky above, I ask that you grant us wings. Grant us your power to conquer even the strongest of stormy winds and please," Winona stood up and spread her arms out, "guide us to your great blue world and let us share in its infinite power and majesty!"

"What on earth is she talking about, Alain?" Mairin asked.

"Winona probably believes the sky is like a god watching over her." Alain guessed.

"I was thinking the same thing." Brock agreed.

"So she's worshipping the sky?" Max asked.

"It would seem so." Alain replied.

"The match between Fortree Gym Leader, Winona, and the challenger, Cora Joy, from Viridian City, will now begin. This will be a four-on-four Pokémon battle. Each trainer will use four Pokémon and the match ends when all four Pokémon of either opponent are unable to continue battling. The Challenger will attack first, the Challenger will be permitted to make substitutions during the match, the Gym Leader will not." Zachary announced.

"Are you ready to fly, Cora?" Winona asked, smiled.

"Ready." Cora replied, smiled.

"Altaria, I choose you!" Winona released her Humming Pokémon.

Alataria cooed as it appeared.

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"Oh wow it's an Altaria, a dragon and flying type Pokémon." Max beamed.

May looked at Altaria on her Pokédex:

[Altaria the Humming Pokémon. The evolved form of Swablu. It flies gracefully through the sky. Its melodic humming makes you feel like you're in a dream.]