This is actually a story I wrote as English homework a couple of years ago. I'm not very good at writing short stories, and this one had to be under 800 words long. It's about Misty in the games trying to become a Gym Leader, and it's also got my ideas about how the Leaders are chosen. Thoughts are in italics. Of course, I always like reviews for my work, so review if you can!
Challenges
Becoming a Pokémon Master means overcoming a lot of challenges. And only the very best Masters can become Gym leaders, Misty thought as she walked up the steps towards the huge door that blocked the way to the Champion’s room. It seemed simple really. Catch Pokémon, challenge the eight Gyms of your home region, go to the regional League to challenge the Champion, then, if you’re good enough, you get a Gym. But the challenges of becoming a Leader are so much more. Friendship with Pokémon, covering the weaknesses of your chosen type… The memories almost made Misty turn back. Then she remembered everything she’d already overcome. Her eight Badges, defeating the Elite Four, finding her way from city to city after Psyduck ate her map. She couldn’t give up. Only her Seaking had fainted during the whole of her battles with the Elite Four, but she’d been lucky. She would probably be defeated by Erika, the Grass-type specialist if she had to try a second time. If she didn’t do it now, she would let her team down. She couldn’t do that. She sat down and leant her head against the huge doors as she looked back at her experiences with the team.
Gyarados, which had been given to her as a joke starter Pokémon when it was still a lv.2 Magikarp by her sisters, but which she’d trained by catching a Horsea, then switching from Magikarp to Horsea before the opposing Pokémon had a chance to attack, until it finally evolved. That was another reason why she had to do this. To show her sisters she wasn’t useless.
Seadra, the evolution of Horsea, the very first Pokémon she’d caught. Of course, if it hadn’t run into that rock, it would have defeated her, but the success of her whole journey had mainly been based on luck, like evolving…
Vaporeon, which she had caught as an Eevee, and searched and searched for a Water Stone, when one fell from a plane, Eevee had caught it, and evolved. Misty didn’t even see what type of Stone it was, so she was scared it would evolve into Jolteon or Flareon.
Lanturn, the only Pokémon she’d caught in Johto.
Dewgong, a Pokémon she’d obtained in a trade.
And finally Seaking, which she’d caught at lv.6l when her other Pokémon were only about lv.50ish.
No, she couldn’t let her down, not after all her Gym Battles. She started to stand up, then another wave of memory swept over her.
Pewter Gym (Rock). This one should have been easy, as Rock is weak to Water, but her two Pokémon were very underleveled, and she had to try twice. That had really dented her confidence, but finally beating Flint had felt great.
Cerulean Gym (Fire). Again, it should have been easy, because of Fire’s weakness to Water, and it was. Misty had trained her Pokémon properly this time, her Magikarp had evolved, and it wasn’t a problem. But that was the easiest battle. The others were much harder. But, if it’s not a challenge, it’s not fun. That’s what her mum always told-
Her thoughts were interrupted by the huge doors creaking open. She fell backwards onto a nearby rock, which jumped up and ran away- it was a Geodude, not a rock, and looked up in surprise as a man ran past, shielding his Poké Balls with his arm, obviously a challenger who’d been defeated, heading for a Pokémon Centre. Misty was almost overcome with nervousness, but there was no turning back now. Someone had seen her.
“Hey! Little girl!” the someone shouted. “Do you want to wait over in the stands while, who is it challenging the Champion? Dad? Mum? Big bro-” Misty cut him off, embarrassed and angry.
“Looks aren’t everything! I’m the one challenging! And how dare you call me little! I’m 9! And my mum used to say I was very mature for-” She stopped, realising she was just making herself look like an idiot. “Anyway, I’m Misty, and I want to become a Gym Leader,” she finished.
“If you say so. Let me explain the rules. If you win (which you won’t), the Champion judges if you’re good enough to get a Gym. You would be the youngest Gym Leader ever if you had a chance! But I’ll need to see your Badges.”
Misty took out her badge case and opened it to reveal 8 gleaming Badges. The man looked impressed, and slightly surprised.
“Good luck!” he said. Misty thought she would need it. It was down to her to overcome the greatest challenge of all.
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