It was finally time.

Virah stood stock still in front of Goldenrod's gym, the building loomed over her, its caramel walls promised both hardship and reward, pain and satisfaction that only a trainer could feel.

The people entering its doors mostly consisted of the crowds that wanted to watch the battles during the morning hours, so kids, housewives, and young teens.

The demographic would shift later on but for now, Virah would have to deal with knowing her audience are those who know little to nothing when it comes to Pokemon Battles and are mostly just there for entertainment.

'Do I banter?' Virah sighed, bantering is commonplace in gyms, especially when the Gym Leader is social but it wasn't mandatory for a trainer to banter back.

Just… expected- by the audience, and the Gym Leader, and other trainers, and possibly those watching from there Pokewatch as well-

'Okay, that's getting overwhelming,' Virah shook her head and put that train of thought down, knowing that a lot of people are tuning in to watch her fight was nerve wracking.

'What if they see me fail?'

That was a question that to her, didn't have a proper answer and she would have liked some time to think but she didn't, well, maybe she did, but sadly, past her wouldn't have known that entering a gym for the first time would be so hard.

She stepped forward, and then another, until she was walking casually into the gym.

She entered, talked to the receptionist about her scheduled fight and waited, the fight was confirmed, she was told where to go, and she proceeded to move.

Compared to the packed lobby she was just in, the halls that led to the waiting room were empty and devoid of furniture, it was like she was walking towards certain doom, and the feeling stayed with her until she entered the room in the end.

Virah looked around the waiting room, it was spartan, only having a two benches next to the walls as well as a TV bolted above the doorframe.

Virah peeked into the arena and… it was exactly what she thought it was, a large square battlefield with a sandy floor, there were bushes growing on the edge of the stadium's mouth, and those were probably the berry bushes Whitney was talking about.

Virah went back inside and sat on the bench, looking around, she saw that the room was empty, 'was I too early?'

Virah thought that her question was stupid, of course she's early, that's what she wanted, to be punctual, but it seems that it may have worked against her because now she feels like an anxious wreck that's about to implode.

She decided to pass the time, and at the moment, the best way for her to do that was to practice using her Aura.

Her eyes closed and she focused on the philosophy of the energy running in her internals.

She was getting better at noticing it and making it flow, and the feeling of burning sludge running through her veins was a testament to just how far she's gone in Aura training.

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Most practitioners describe Aura as a "burning feeling" and they were oddly right, each second she spent flowing her Aura felt like her entire body was being melted by acid.

The tingling sensation that followed shortly after the burn was the reconstruction of her body.

And that was what Aura was at its core, destruction and reconstruction.

First a toxic burn followed by a relieved itch, through those two sensations, Virah knew that her body was being rebuilt to be more used to using Aura, to become more akin to that of a Pokemon instead of human.

Tapping into that potential felt good, and progress felt even better.

Sadly, no progress happened in this particular morning as she had to stop when someone entered the waiting room.

"Whitney," she greeted her friend, "are you feeling nervous?"

The pinkette shook her head, her smile was calm, serene even, "no, not really," she sat next to Virah and pressed her chin against her palm, "we've worked hard, and now, we're going to win,"

Whitney grinned and flashed a V-for victory gesture, "I'm sure of it!"

Virah wryly smiled, she hoped that she had the same optimism as her friend but she unfortunately didn't, the more pragmatic side of her knew that her chances of winning were 50/50 and the fight could really go either way.

Warley commonly started with 2 Pokemon whenever he fought in a first badge battle but sometimes, he liked to test his opponents and uses 3.

By that point, the challenger (or in this case, her,) would live up to their name sake because Warley will challenge them beyond their limits.

Most of those fights usually end up with the gym leader winning but for the little few that won, it's rumored that they get more rewards than normal.

It was basically Warley's way of supporting the future generations, by challenging them and then rewarding them.

Virah felt tempted to fight the man at his best, the extra reward couldn't hurt after all, but she also feared that she'll lose.

"Hey, remember when you said that you'll be fine when out journey starts?"

Virah stopped thinking and faced Whitney, "yeah?"

"Are you still feeling sick?"

The two of them locked gazes and a pregnant pause came down on them.

"… No," Virah shook her head, come to think of it, that's kind of weird isn't it? "I knew that I was walking around fine but I didn't realize how fast I recovered…"

Well, she did, but telling Whitney about Arceus and those Unowns would probably not end well so she lied. And it's not like she confirmed that it was them who were responsible for making her recover in record time.

For all she knew, Aura might have something to do with it.

""Hm, I guess you're lucky that you healed quickly huh?" Whitney grinned, it was genuine, "that means we can go on our journey without worrying about you,"

"Yep," Virah nodded, glad that she didn't have to be a burden to her friends.

To Virah's practical side, passing the time with small talk may have felt useless but talking to her friend eased her in a way that flowing her Aura never could, and Aura couldn't really strategize with her either.

Eventually, the time had come for her to fight, and out of everyone present on the waiting room, it was her who had to go first, followed shortly after by Grene and Whitney.

Virah took out Nitro's Pokeball and gripped it right, she infused the sphere with her Aura and felt the Pokemon inside vibrate in eagerness, Nitro wanted to fight, Virah knew, and so she'd give it to him.

Since this was her first ever battle, making this her debut as a trainer, the announcer would modify her introduction to include her team, her grades in the past ranger's exam, as well as her sponsors.

And speaking of those, Virah touched the emblem hanging on her left chest, Eggtech's icon sat there, representing her, but it wasn't all one sided because she too represented the organization.

Which means that if she fails, Eggtech would look like a fool for choosing to sponsor her.

'You made yourself nervous, way to go,'

Virah stood on the podium, waiting for Warley to come out from the other side.

"And fighting this prodigy is our beloved gym leader! Give it up forrrrrr-"

The announcer's voice got drowned out by the excited screeches of the audience as, for once, Goldenrod's Gym Leader decided to come in person during the morning, and by the looks of it, he had been prepared hours before the fight.

Warley hopped into the podium with the grace of a Kangaskhan, his muscular frame could be seen from his baggy hoodie and the sweatpants he was wearing barely did anything to lessen his intimidating posture.

"So you're here to challenge me huh?"

The room quieted down alongside the dimming of the lights, a spotlight shone down on Virah as the one of Warley flickered off.

"Yeah!" Virah shakily held her Pokeball in front of the man, "you better bring your best! I'm not afraid to fight three Pokemon! I'll beat you regardless!"

Wait what?

Virah cursed her impulsive reply as the crowd gasped.

Warley laughed, "very well then!"

The floor next to Warley's feet opened up and a smaller podium emerged, the top opened, revealing three Ultraballs on black fabric.

Warley replaced the two ordinary Pokeballs on his waist with the ones on the podium, he tossed one in the air, grabbed it, then whipped it forward so that the bud faced Virah.

"If it's a challenge you want! I'll give it to you!" His outstretched hand which held the Ultraball out bend backward, then like a catapult throwing a boulder into the air, he sent the Ultraball up high.

It opened up in mid air, then bright red light, followed by a digital screech.

"MILKTANK!"

"Oh! And Warley starts out with his ace!" The announcer exclaimed, "what will our challenger take out in response I wonder?!"

Virah sucked in a lungful of air, pulled her hand back, and tossed her starter's Pokeball, "Nitro! Let's win this!"