The trainer smirked, letting out a laugh as his Sandshrew held its ground as the wind picked up around it, "Hah! You gotta learn that flying types don't do well against Ground and Rock types, like Sandshrew! If that's your strongest Pokémon, you're in for a world of hurt! Now Sandshrew, use Sand Attack!" The sandshrew took to digging as furiously as its little paws would allow, a massive plume of dirt an sand blew up, surrounding all nearby, including the trainers. Lulu began to sneeze, ducking and wiping her eyes as much as she could with her own paws.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4040FF">Danielle’s confidence faded, “What?” She braced herself when Sand Attack was unleashed.<br/><br/>The trainer was right about what he said. Daisy was blinded the moment the sand kicked up. Her eyes burned, her vision was obscured by the sand; it was difficult for the bird to make out anything. All she saw was dirt, dirt, and more dirt. It was needless to say that she had completely lost sight of the Sandshrew.<br/><br/>“Don’t let him best you, Daisy!” The young girl’s voice called out. “Try Gust again!” With Danielle as her only guidance, Daisy obeyed. She flapped her wings, in a desperate attempt to clear the sand.</span><br/><br/>Suddenly a boulder the size of the little bird came flying straight at it. Lulu's ears were instantly up when she heard the referee shout, "Pidgey is unable to battle!" The Sandshrew landed, and the sand cleared to show Daisy knocked out on the floor, the boulder thankfully a foot or so away. It would have been terrible if it landed directly on her.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4040FF">Danielle looked at poor Daisy’s unconscious form in astonishment. Gym trainers were a lot stronger than she had anticipated. Well, it looks like she had no choice. She looked at Lulu, knowing an electric type definitely stood no chance. The young girl didn’t have much of a choice…<br/><br/>“Alright, looks like Bruce is up next.” She tossed the male Nidoran’s PokéBall in the air. When the red light faded, the horned rodent looked at his trainer in mild surprise. Danielle just smiled and winked at him.“So, I’m down a Pokémon. Bruce here is more than ready!”<br/></span><br/><br/>Lulu blinked in surprise; she was sending out Bruce? Hadn't she said she wouldn't let him fight? Quickly she over came her confusion and shouted<span style="font-style: italic"> "Cmon Bruce! Beat em!"</span>The Sandshrew, hearing his trainer shout "Use Headbutt!" leaned its head down and ran at top speed.<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #4040FF">“Quick, Bruce, counter it with Horn Attack!” At his trainer’s command, and taking in Lulu’s encouragement, Bruce lowered his own head and charged for the Sandshrew.<br/></span><br/><br/>Lulu was all puffed up with excitement. She didn't know Gym Battles were so thrilling! The two Pokémon immediately butted heads, but Sandshrew kept pushing, trying to overpower Bruce<br/><br/><span style="color: #4040FF"><br/>Bruce stood his ground pretty well. “Yeah, that’s it, keep it up!” Danielle cheered her partner on enthusiastically, smiling a little. Her confidence was coming back. Bruce continued to push on, slowly gaining ground, easing the Sandshrew back towards its trainer. Progress was slow, and for awhile he was being pushed back. However, he was not willing to give up. He took in a deep breath and push forward hoping to push the Sandshrew out of the arena.</span><br/><br/>The dirt beneath the Sandshrew's feet was starting to mound up as he was being slowly shoved back. It released a growl, and his trainer cheered it on. "Cmon Sandshrew! You can do it!"<br/><br/>After a few intense minutes, Sandshrew couldn't take anymore. It snarled, pawing at the ground as hard as it could, but Bruce got under him, sending him flying. "Sandshrew is unable to battle! Nidoran is the winner!" Lulu stared with her eyes wide and her mouth agape. He won? He won!! In an instant she jumped off the shoulder she was perched on and bounced around Bruce,<span style="font-style: italic">"You did it!"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #4040FF">Danielle jumped up and down happily. “Good job, Bruce!” She couldn’t believe that, in spite of the rough start, she had managed to take out that Sandshrew. “Got anything better than that ugly rat to throw at me?” She taunted the trainer. These gym battles were really tough. And that was only one victory… she was sure there was more, and she hoped she wouldn’t need to dash to the Pokémon Center and try again half way through. From here on out, she was going to need to play her cards right.<br/><br/>Bruce was panting a little after that little work out. He staggered a little under Lulu’s weight, smiling a little. ‘Yeah.. That little punk was nothing.’ He said in response, waiting to see what was next. The trainer didn’t look amused that his Pokémon was taken out. Too bad. Bruce felt that he was unstoppable now.</span><br/><br/>Lulu bounced around him excitedly,<span style="font-style: italic">"That was awesome! You beat up that Sandshrew like it was nothing!"</span>Now she was starting to act like Danielle, but she didn't even notice.<br/><br/>Across the Gym, a tanned, muscular man waited, watching the battle, and he had to say, he was impressed. She should learn about type advantages and disadvantages before beating him, but he liked her spunk.