It Actually Does

You breathe a heavy sigh of relief as Charmander powerfully swings its arm towards Aerodactyl without even a moment's hesitation, its sharp claws glowing with a bright metallic sheen.

"No! Aerodactyl, fly up and out of the way!" calls Brock, but it's too late; Charmander slashes at the fossil pokemon's wing with all its might, and the rock/flying type lets out a screech of pain. It still tries to follow Brock's command and fly upwards, but its wing is clearly wounded and it can't gain much elevation.

"One more time, Charmander!" you yell, your frustration and despair being replaced with a returning sense of elation and excitement; this battle was almost won! Your starter pokemon obeys, delivering yet another super effective swipe at its wounded opponent.

You figure Aerodactyl must be pretty low-level to be on this team, and its defenses are therefore pretty low; it can't take anymore punishment, and it sinks to the ground, ****.

"Your winner is... Amber!" The announcer's voice echoes across the gym, and overwhelming pride surges through you.

"YES!" you yell, jumping up and down where you stand, before running to your Charmander, embracing it in a tight hug. You've won. You've actually won. You're a real pokemon trainer!

"Congratulations," says Brock, and you instantly feel embarrassed for letting your emotions get the better of you. The gym leader's calm smile is still etched on his face as he recalls his Aerodactyl and walks over to you. He extends his arm for a handshake and you oblige, feeling his strong grip and the warmth of his hand. "You showed excellent pokemon knowledge with that strategy, Amber," he tells you, and you feel like you're going to burst with pride. "Most trainers who come up against Aerodactyl without a water or electric type just panic and don't know what to do. But not you. You used your head and you pushed through to get the win. You deserve this."

He lets go of your hand and reaches into the pocket of his tan pants, pulling out a shiny grey badge. "It is my honour to award you with the official Pokemon League Boulder Badge. Once again, congratulations."

You gratefully take the badge and pin it to your dress, trying not to cry with joy at having accomplished this huge victory. No-one in Pallet Town thought I'd make it this far. I've proven them all wrong!

With a final farewell to Brock after he hands you your prize money in addition to the badge, you grab your bag and head out of the gym, a smile on your face as you soak in the moment. This is why I became a trainer...