let's go on a JOURNEY! (POKEMON ORAS)

14. CHALLENGE

"Finish him off with Hydro Pump!" May shouted.

"Not so fast! Gallade, use Close Combat!" Wally commanded.

The psychic-type lunged for Swampert. Unfortunately for him, however, the amphibious pokémon had already prepared the attack. He was knocked back by a torrential burst of water. But, he got up and readied himself for his next orders.

"Okay, Swampert! Let's finish this with Earthquake!"

"Gallade! Psycho Cut!"

This time, Swampert wasn't quick enough. Gallade leaped forward and slashed the glowing blades on his arms against Swampert's body. He cried out in pain and wasn't able to execute his attack.

May furrowed her brow out of frustration. 'Wally sure has improved,' she begrudgingly thought to herself. She just had one more pokémon to knock out, and this battle would be hers. "Swampert, come on! Another Hydro Pump!"

"Gallade, Psycho Cut one more time! We got this!"

Again, Swampert hurled out a massive force of water. It slammed into Gallade just as he was about to execute his attack. The psychic-type was knocked to the ground. He tried with every last bit of energy in his body to stand back up, but to no avail.

She did it. She won! No, they won. She and Swampert let out cries of joy, and Wally sighed as he recalled his last pokémon.

"Wally, thank you for the battle," May grinned. "You did great. You really have come a long way."

"Thank you, May," he said in a solemn tone. "Well, I think this is it. I should head back down and continue my training some place else."

"Don't get so down. You made it a lot further than most people can dream of. Be proud of yourself."

They said no more. The two shared smiles, and then, they went their separate directions. May headed towards the gate. And Wally, he was headed back down the mountain.

She took this moment to reflect on herself and her travels. She had moved to this strange, foreign land from a place overseas. Before, she had never even owned a pokémon. And partaking in battles was out of the question.

And here she was now. She had a full team of six pokémon. She had earned eight badges, and she was on her way to challenge the Elite Four. This was a moment that she wouldn't have even dreamed as being possible. And, here she was now, living it as reality.

Her first capture was a tiny Lotad, now a fully-evolved Ludicolo that loved dancing as much as battling. Her Taillow was now a beautiful, elegant Swellow. And the once-shy Numel was now a blossoming Camerupt. Her Absol was a brave, ruthless fighter. And the latest addition, a fierce Glalie, was irreplaceable and a key member to her team.

And of course, she couldn't forget about her starter, her first pokémon ever. She remembered earning her first badge with a little Mudkip. She remembered training hard with a Marshtomp. She remembered hiking through forests, eerie gravesites, cities and towns of all sizes with a hulking Swampert. Her first companion, her ride or die until the end... He was the true star of her journey.

All of these challenges she faced and overcame, every little thing she's done so far has led her up to this point. This was it. This was everything that she trained for, and everything that she waited for. With one last deep breath, she walked through the gates that concluded her journey on Victory Road, and started her journey towards the Elite Four and beyond.

It's show time.