When we're heading to Sunyshore City, we find a Chatot and capture it because we realize we haven't got the Pokemon despite encountering a lot.

Chatot: The Music Note Pokemon: Normal and Flying Type. It keeps rhythm by flicking its tail feathers like a metronome. It imitates human speech.

We manage to find Barry again, and Barry asks, "So how have you guys been, it has been a while since we stopped Team Galactic together!"

"Yeah." I say. "A lot of things really happen, and Dawn just got her fifth ribbon for Grand Festival as well."

"So did you finally get your 8th badge yet?" Barry asks us, and we shake our heads.

"We're heading to the Sunyshore Gym now." Lillie says, and then Barry suddenly laughs, "Here's the deal, I already beat the Sunyshore Gym."

He shows us that he already has all 8 badges, much to our surprise. "What do you expect? This talented Twinleaf Town trainer is heading for the Sinnoh League!"

"Ash, Lillie, you have some catching up to do before you reach Paul and Barry." Gladion says.

"Wait, Paul's got 8 badges?" Barry asks. "So that means Paul is going to be in the League as well. You two better get to the Sunyshore Gym right away, this is waiting for you."

He shows us the Beacon Badge, and he says, "The Sunyshore Gym is the best."

"The best gym..." We are confused.

We decide to head to the Pokemon Center, and we actually find Paul over there as well. Barry decides to greet Paul, and he challenges him to a battle, but Paul is unimpressed with Barry, however, and declines the offer, which surprises Barry.

"I don't want them to engage in a pointless battle that confuses them." Paul says.

"Don't sweat it, your Pokemon will get into good shape if you battle against us." Barry says. "We're really strong."

"I think you should have a battle with them instead." Paul says while looking at us.

"I've already battled them a lot of times. Besides, they only get seven badges and I want to battle someone with all the badges." Barry says.

"I think we should get to Sunyshore city to get the badge or else they are looking down on us." Lillie says to me and I nod.

"What? Sunyshore Gym?" Paul asks. "That gym is not legit!"

"What are you talking about? That gym is the best." Barry says.

"That gym is the worst." Then he walks away, and we are confused since Barry and Paul have different opinions of the gym.

"Well, I just have to fine that guy!" Barry yells.

"We'll see him again, don't worry." I sigh. "If you keep traveling of course. But don't let your guard down a second when you battle against him. He's really good."

"Something happened between you two..." Barry says.

"We have a full battle." I say.

"You battled him? No fair!" Barry says.

"That match is a draw, we got a lot of history, but that battle shows me a lot about myself. I didn't have a lot of skills he had. But we're winning next time." I say.

Then Barry decides to battle me, and then we notice the news that the Sinnoh Grand Festival is actually in Valor Lakefront. "Hey, isn't that the same place where both of you get your Wallace Cup ribbon?" Daniel asks.

"What a coincidence." Lillie says. "But we just come all the way from Valor Lakefront..."

"That's fine, we just need to get the badge before we get there. We can also fly as well." I say.

When Barry and I battle, Barry goes for Floatzel while I go for Monferno.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Barry starts with Hydro Pump, though Monferno dodges it and lands a Mach Punch. Barry decides to try Brick Break, but I have Monferno Dig Underground before emerging and landing another hard hit on Floatzel.

Barry has Floatzel use Hydro Pump again, and while this time it hits, it lands at such close range that Monferno is sent flying into some nearby trees. "Monferno!" We yell in shock.

"I hope I didn't overdo it..." When we try to find Monferno, we are trapped in plastic capsules.

"What's this?" I yell. Absol tries to use Psycho Cut, but it doesn't move. And it is then the others also get trapped in the capsules as well.

"Team Rocket! Not you guys again!" I say.

This time the balloon itself starts to deflate while arms and legs emerge from the basket. The arms deflect the attacks, grab the five Pokémon, and deposit them in a cage as Team Rocket finishes their motto.

Suddenly, a pillar of fire emerges from the nearby trees, transforms itself into an extra-powerful Flame Wheel attack, and heads toward Team Rocket's mecha. "What's that?"

"Oh no... it can't be!" I gasp as Monferno breaks the capsule Lillie and I are trapped.

"What's got into Monferno?" Barry asks.

"It's Raging Fury! When this move is activated, it will attack everything in sight. Not to mention that move is also powered up by Blaze, because of the Hydro Pump..." Daniel says.

"Raging Fury! I should have Infernape learn that move." Barry says.

Team Rocket cannot believe their luck and decide to get Monferno, too. However, Monferno's sheer power easily destroys their grabbed claw. He then powers up a Flame Wheel attack and heads towards Team Rocket.

"Stop it, Monferno! You got to calm down!" Lillie and I try to reach Monferno, but he knocks us down before sending Team Rocket flying.

"After using Raging Fury, Monferno will be in a confused state." Tox says.

By now, Monferno is completely out of control, and while the controls of the mecha were destroyed, the main body survived, and the Pokémon are still trapped. Without anyone controlling it, the legs start to buckle, threatening to crush the still-captive Pokémon.

"Pikachu! Guys! We'll get you out of here!" I yell. But then, we find Paul and he is already sending out Electabuzz.

"Protect!" Paul yells as Electabuzz uses Protect to support the cage, amazing everyone.

"When did he show up?" Barry asks.

Unfortunately, Monferno irately powers up a Flame Wheel, and damages one of the legs, putting the Pokémon in far more danger. Monferno circles around and prepares for another hit, but Lillie and I intercept the Flame Wheel this time.

"Monferno!" We hug the Pokemon at the same time.

"You remember? The promise we made to each other? The promise to get stronger together!" Lillie says.

And now we are swallow up by the fire, I yell, "Monferno! You can't let Raging Fury take you over! You have to get all of the power under control! You'll get stronger and we'll get stronger too!"

Just then, Electabuzz's Protective barrier fails, and the mecha starts to collapse, endangering Electabuzz as well as the other Pokémon. Monferno, now back in control, powers up a Flame Wheel, and races towards the cage getting underneath and supporting it. As he supports the cage, Monferno suddenly evolves into Infernape.

Infernape: The Flame Pokemon: Fire and Fighting Type. Evolved from Monferno at LV:36. Its crown of fire is indicative of its fiery nature. It is beaten by none in terms of quickness.

"Infernape!" We cheer as Infernape throws the cage into the air and then has it destroyed with Mach Punch. This proves to be no problem for the powerful Pokémon as he frees Pikachu, Piplup, and Empoleon. When they start to fall, Infernape absorbs them into a Flame Wheel attack to allow them to land safely.

"Looks like the Blaze energy is what Monferno needed to evolve." Paul says. "Monferno controls Raging Fury and it turns into a new power."

We release everyone and they thank Infernape. I turn to Paul and says, "Hey, Paul. Thanks a lot. Let's battle someday. You and me, and Infernape."

Paul turns before saying, "My brother says that he wants to see another full battle between us. He'll see it at the Sinnoh League, that's when I'll battle you and Infernape."

Then he leaves, and we know that it is when we can show them how our Pokemon have improved.

We finally arrive at Sunyshore City, an area that is reliant heavily on technology with solar panels throughout as well as escalators and treadmills designed to transport people where we want to go.

"Now we are here, I hear that the gym leader is Volkner and he's tough to beat." Lillie says.

"Yeah, I also heard that he's the strongest gym leader in Sinnoh." Tox says.

"The stronger the opponent is, the stronger we can have. I'm going to beat him!" I say.

Upon arriving at the gym, we hear a robotic voice. We immediately reply that we want a gym battle. But much to our shock, a box opens and shows a lot of gym badges.

"They're all gym badges..." Lillie says.

"We skip the battle and let challengers take the badge." The robot says.

"Well, I guess you might as well take it." Dawn says.

"But you have to earn it, and that's after getting the battle." Lillie says. "Otherwise what's the point for that?"

"I think this is what Paul means when this is the worst gym..." I mutter.

"Well if this isn't Ash Ketchum?" We turn around and see a man approaching. The man had red hair and we didn't recognize him. "Yo! Fellow Trainer! Your Pokémon are secure inside their Poké Balls, but there's no masking that aura of serious toughness! Oops, sorry, I should introduce myself. The name's Flint! I'm one of the Pokémon League's Elite Four!"

"The Elite Four?" We are surprised to meet the third one already. Flint says, "I'll say this, you're determined. Follow me, I'll bring you to Volkner. Volkner and I are good buds, at the moment, he's over there."

On their way up, Flint notes that Sunyshore is powered purely by solar energy and all the solar panels throughout the city are controlled by the tower. Volkner is responsible for being the architect and controller of the entire Sunyshore solar network.

When we arrive at the tower, we find a Raichu and Flint greets the Pokemon.

"Hey, Flint. Who are the kids?" We finally get to see Volkner, and he seems to be depressed.

"You got some challengers." Flint says.

"My name is Ash and this is Lillie. We want to have a gym battle." I say.

"Then just take the badge from the door." Volkner says.

"No way, I want to get the badge by earning it!" I say.

"Don't make me tell you again. I've completely lost interest in battles." Volkner says.

"Volkner, I know that both Ash and Lillie are electrifying trainers, so just give them a chance." Flint says.

"What a beautiful day..." Volkner then walks towards the observation deck. "I like you to leave."

"Volkner..." Then he just leaves, and Flint decides to take us to a cafe for a drink.

Flint tells us that Volkner didn't always find battling dull, he was one of the best Gym Leaders in Sinnoh. Flint explains that Volkner met when they were both kids and quickly became rivals after Volkner's Pikachu beat Flint's Chimchar. They battled constantly to prove who was the top Trainer in Sunyshore, Flint and Volkner began to become distant after they pursued their interests, with Volkner becoming Sunyshore's Gym Leader and Flint eventually joining the Elite Four. Volkner slowly lost interest in battling as it became repetitive and became more obsessed with technology and restructuring his vision for Sunyshore City.

"I thought that maybe letting him see you guys would get a spark for battling again." Flint says.

"It was just a waste." Volkner also comes into the cafe, and Flint says, "Volkner, you know how I feel about this. Come on! Snap out of it!"

"So did you come back here just to give me a lecture?" Volkner asks. "Mr. Elite Four?"

"What did you say?" Flint grabs Volkner by the collar, and Volkner says, "If you want to punch me, do it."

"It's not even worth the time for me to do it. So what's happening to you? What happened to the shining shocking star?"

"Flint, we're not kids anymore, you gotta grow up." Volkner says.

"Flint." Just then, the bar owner suggests that I have a battle with Ash, so in the end, we decide to do it.

In the gym, I send out Pikachu and Flint sends out Infernape. Seeing my battle style, he starts to regain his spark for battling. Since his style is like his when he was younger. Finally, we both have a tie.

"Looks like I have some unfinished business after all." Volkner says, much to our shock.

"A gym leader's spark is to pass along the spark to all challengers." Volkner says, and Flint gasps, "You mean it?"

"Thanks to you and Ash, you made me realize my spark. You were brilliant. All of your spark, watching you battle makes me realize more." He says.

"Thanks, so that means you'll have a gym battle with me?" I ask.

"Yes, and an electrifying one too!" Flint says.

Then we decide to start the gym battle, and it is a four-on-four. The first Pokemon is Raichu, and I decide to go with Riolu.

"Electric Terrain!" Volkner decides to set up the field, and I say, "I thought you might start with Electric Terrain... Riolu! Force Palm!"

"Rising Voltage!" Volkner decides to counter the attack and hits Riolu, and the move is also powered up by the Electric Terrain.

"Return!" I decide to return Riolu and send out Mismagius. Volkner yells, "Raichu! Use Thunder Wave!"

Raichu tries to paralyze my Misganius, but I have Mismagius go for Mystical Fire, hitting Raichu and slamming it to the ground. "Finish it with Shadow Ball!"

And the attack cause Raichu to fall to the ground and fainted, giving me the first win.

"Nice job, Mismagius!" I cheer, and Gladion says, "Looks like Ash can do this."

"I have to admit that Mismagius is a little tricky, but things are getting started." Flint says.

"Your Mismagius is quite the opponent. Not much can bewilder my Raichu like that." Volkner says. "So... how will you fight this?"

Much to our surprise, he sends out an Ambipom. Lillie says, "Ambipom! That's not even an Electric Type!"

"Considering that Candice already uses a Medicham... I guess the gym leaders are not always going to use all the Pokemon of that type..."

"Ambipom! Use Nasty Plot!" Ambipom tries to power up its Special attack, and it goes for Shock Wave, I have Mismagius use Magical Leaf to counter it.

"Mismagius! Lucky Chant!" I say, trying to prevent any critical hits, but Ambipom goes for Beat Up, hitting three times and knocking out Mismagius in the end.

"Being a Normal Type already prohibits Mismagius from using any Ghost moves... but it is a good thing that he sets up the Lucky chant so Volkner can't use any critical hits." Tox says.

And now the Electric Terrain has worn off, and I decide to go for Absol as my third Pokemon. "Use Focus Blast!" I yell, and Absol manages to hit Ambipom.

"Use Shock Wave now!" Ambipom goes for the attack, and Absol uses Detect to block the attack.

"Now, you'll get to see how much faster you've made Ambipom! Agility!" Ambipom starts to run fast before delivering a Focus Punch, hitting Absol. I know that it is going to be risky, but I yell, "Absol! Perish Song now!"

Absol goes for the attack, and now both Pokemon have three turns on the field. "This is not going to scare me. Finish it with Focus Punch!"

Another Focus Punch hits Absol and now it is knocked out. Flint says, "The Gym Leaders are not able to switch the Pokemon during battles, so this is going to be interesting indeed..."

I decide to send Riolu back, and I have it use Vacuum Wave, and Ambipom uses Shock Wave to block the attack. Both moves hit the other and pushing both Pokemon back. Then Ambipom goes for Focus Punch, but Riolu's Double Team causes the attack to hit nothing but thin air.

"Force Palm!" I yell, and Ambipom tries to go for Shock Wave, defeating all the copies and hitting Riolu. It is then the Perish Song activates and Ambipom is defeated.

"The Perish Song is in effect." Gladion says.

"As expected from the Aura Pokemon." Volkner says. "Now let's go! Octillery!"

The third one is a Water Type, and it goes for Charge Beam, boosting the Special Attack. "Use Reversal!" I yell, and Volkner has it use Bullet Seed, hitting each other simultaneously.

"Octazooka!" Volkner says, and Octazooka attacks and hits Riolu, and Riolu eventually falls down and fainted.

"You've done a great job, Riolu..." I say while recalling the Pokemon.

"Now Ash only has one Pokemon while Volkner has 2..." Dawn says.

"Rhyperior! I choose you!" My final Pokemon is Rhyperior, much to everyone's surprise. But thanks to its Solid Rock ability, my Pokemon isn't taking that much damage from Bullet Seed, and a Drill Run knocks the Octillery out.

"Now go! Luxray!" When Luxray is on the field, it goes for Electric Terrain as well. "Rock Wrecker!"

When Rhyperior tries to attack, Luxray goes for Crunch, before turning into an Ice Fang that freezes my Rhyperior. "Oh no!"

"Use Double Kick!" Luxray tries to go with the attack and it keeps hit Rhyperior who is still trapped in the ice. It is after I calling out to him that he breaks out and uses Hammer Arm, slamming Luxray to the ground before finishes with Drill Run.

"...Hehehe. Hahahah! ...That was the most fun I've had in a battle since...I don't know when! It's also made me excited to know you and your team will keep battling to greater heights! This is your eighth Gym Badge. You've earned this!"

I get myself the Beacon Badge, and he says, "That Beacon Badge lets you use the hidden move Waterfall even when you're not in a battle. Waterfall happens to be the key if you're going to the Pokémon League. Also, because you've collected all eight Badges, any Pokémon at any level will now obey you without fail."

And now it is Lillie's turn, but before we can watch Lillie's battle, the electricity runs out.

"What's going on, Volkner? It's weird..." Lillie says.

"Not sure, but I guess we have to put our battle on hold before we figure this out." Volkner says.

As Volkner checks the electricity, he finds that the gym is now without any power and we have to force our way out of the door. Officer Jenny arrives and Volkner asks, "What's wrong?"

"I regret to inform you that all the power in Sunyshore City has been cut off."

We gasp in shock, Volkner says, "The Sunyshore City is run by solar power... the solar panels are situated anywhere and collect the sun's energy to Sunyshore Tower, which becomes the power plant for the city. This means something has happened in the power plant on Sunyshore Tower.

When we rush there, we find that the tower has been made into a rocket. Only idiots like Team Rocket will do something like this. As they are trying to get away with the tower, we give chase and in the end, Lillie, Volkner, and I manage to get into the tower.

Volkner is the one who create the building, so he knows the whole tower's structure. So when we walk inside the tower, we find ourselves trapped in the cage. But we have Riolu use Force Palm to break the cage.

"That was excellent, Riolu." Lillie says.

Now we are at the observation deck, and I say, "Team Rocket, it's time for you to return to the Sunyshore Tower."

They try to send out Carnivine and Seviper to battle, but they seem to have set up a lightning rod to absorb the electricity. "Riolu! Force Palm!"

Just then, Riolu starts to evolve, and now it has become a Lucario. "Lucario!" Lillie cheers.

It goes for Aura Sphere, which hits both Pokemon and send them back. "That's Aura Sphere!" Volkner says.

"Awesome!" I say. "That's so cool you can use Aura Sphere!"

Lucario nods at me, and Jessie yells, "Hey! Time out! Isn't evolution against the rules?"

"If you insist at least you can use Electric move!" James yells.

But we ignore them and have Lucario use another Aura Sphere, which sends them flying again.

"Oh no!" Because of the ship has a hole, the air stream is trying to suck us out, but fortunately, Volkner manages to close the hole.

"We did it." Lillie says.

"There's still a small problem. We've got to get Sunyshore Gym back to Sunyshore City." Then we decide to send out all of our Electric Type Pokemon to bring back the tower, and in the end, we manage to get it back on the ground and meet the others.

Lucario: The Aura Pokemon: Fighting and Steel Type. Evolve from Riolu with high friendship during daytime. By catching the Aura emanating from others, it can read their thoughts and movements.

"It is nice to meet you, Lucario." Dawn says.

"Lillie. I'm sorry, but I think I need some time before we have our battle. But we'll call you once the gym is fixed." Volkner says.

"Don't worry." Lillie says. "And in the meantime, we'll train hard for you to ready to go." Then we all bid them farewell as we head back to Valor Lakefront.

Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash gets his gym badge while Lillie hasn't yet. But there is still more to go and I hope you like it.

Ash and Lillie's Pokemon:

Charizard x2 (In training), Butterfree x2 (One Pink), Pikachu, Lapras, Meganium, Togetic, Espeon, Steelix (Crystal), Mantine, Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Milotic, Absol, Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon, Staraptor, Bibarel, Kricketune, Luxray, Roserade, Rampardos, Bastiodon, Wormadam x3 (Plant, Sandy, Trash), Mothim, Vespiquen, Pachirisu (Shiny), Floatzel, Cherrim, Gatsrodon x2 (East, West), Ambipom, Drifblim, Lopunny, Mismagius, Honchkrow, Purugly, Skuntank, Bronzong, Chatot, Spiritomb, Gabite, Lucario, Hippowdon, Drapion, Toxicroak, Carnivine, Lumineon, Abomasnow, Weavile, Magnezone, Lickilicky, Rhyperior, Tangrowth, Electivire, Magmortar, Yanmega, Leafeon, Glaceon, Gliscor, Mamoswine, Porygon-Z, Gallade, Probopass, Dusknoir, Froslass x2, Rotom, Dialga, Palkia, Regigigas, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai

Dawn's Pokemon:

Rapidash, Piplup, Pachirisu, Cherrim, Lopunny, Piloswine

Tox's Pokemon:

Roserade, Skuntank, Croagunk

Gladion's Pokemon:

Umbreon, Riolu

Daniel's Pokemon:

Girafarig, Bronzong