Rainbow smiled with excitement as she approached the Ponyville Gym, once again. Fluttershy had come with her to see Rainbow's battle.
"Uh, Rainbow?" asked Fluttershy as they walked through the orchard, "I got something for you..."
"Really?" asked Rainbow, pausing, "That's so nice of you, Fluttershy! What is it?"
Fluttershy cautiously reached into her saddlebag, and pulled out a Pokéball. However, it didn't look like any Pokéball Rainbow had ever seen or heard of. It was designed to look like an ember, but the button in the center was rainbow-colored.
"I made it for your Charmander," she explained, "After I noticed that he didn't have one."
"You made it?" asked Rainbow in surprise, "But I thought Pokéballs were made in factories!"
"They are, but I make them out of Apricorns. I have one for Angel that I made, too."
Fluttershy pulled out a Pokéball that was designed with Buneary's colors, and Rainbow noticed that there was a small signature etched on the bottom. Rainbow glanced at her Pokéball again, and saw that it also had Fluttershy's signature.
"That's so cool!" said Rainbow, "Thanks so much, Flutters!"
"It's no trouble for a friend." she replied, tucking Buneary's Pokéball away.
Rainbow and Fluttershy continued walking to the gym, and arrived to see that Twilight, Pinkie, and a unicorn with a white coat were waiting outside the gym.
"Hiya, guys!" said Pinkie, bouncing into the air, "I heard that some pony is challenging Applejack!"
"Re-challenging actually," said Rainbow, "I lost the first time."
"Most trainers don't win their first gym battles." said Twilight.
"You know what would be great, though?" asked the white unicorn, "If Applejack actually became interesting in battling, again!"
"Sorry, but who are you?" asked Rainbow.
"Rainbow, this is Rarity," said Twilight, "I met her while I was waiting for you to come back from the Everfree Forest."
"Pleasure to meet you!" said Rarity.
Rainbow nodded, and walked into the gym, the four others following her. Applejack standing in the exact same spot as last time, and still looked just as bored.
"You back?" asked Applejack.
"Of course!" said Rainbow, running up to the battlefield.
"Apple Bloom, ref again."
The little filly ran out excitedly, and stood ready.
"Alright!" she said, "Well, y'all know the rules, so-"
"A double battle!" called Rainbow suddenly.
"What do ya mean?" asked Applejack.
"I want to challenge you to a double battle!"
"Do you even have two Pokémon?"
"Yes!"
Applejack stared at Rainbow for a bit, "Sure, Ah don't see why not."
"Uh..." Apple Bloom looked at the two ponies in confusion, "So, uh, this will be a double battle! Each trainer will send out two Pokémon who will battle at the same time, I guess. Whoever has at least one Pokémon standing at the end will win!"
"What is Rainbow doing?" whispered Twilight and she and the others walked to the side of the gym to watch.
"Whatever she's doing, it's interesting Applejack!" said Pinkie, "I haven't seen her look this excited since she saw me and Cheerleader's last dance routine!"
Applejack did look mildly interested at the prospect of a double battle, but Twilight worried about Rainbow.
"She's never even seen a live double battle!" she whispered, "Rainbow will get crushed!"
"Battle commence!" declared Apple Bloom.
"Bounsweet, Lileep, come on out!" called Applejack.
"Charmander, Dewpider, show 'em your stuff!" called Rainbow.
All four Pokémon came on to the battlefield, and Rainbow hid how nervous she was. What was she doing? She had only ever seen a double battle on TV! But if Applejack was bored of battling like Rarity said, this would be sure to excite her again!
"Charmander, Ember on Bounsweet!" called Rainbow just as Applejack called, "Lileep, Smack Down on Charmander!"
The two moves went at the same time, and they both hit. However, Charmander remained standing against the attack, unlike last time. Rainbow quickly checked her Pokédex for Dewpider's move set.
"Dewpider, Infestation on Bounsweet!" she called.
"Bounsweet, Razor Leaf!" called Applejack, "Lileep, Smack Down, again!"
As the Pokémon attacked, Rainbow quickly called to Charmander.
"Charmander use Ember on-"
She cut off as Charmander was hit by Smack Down, and fainted. Dewpider hit Bounsweet with Infestation before it could use Razor Leaf, which knocked it out. Applejack continued to stare dully at the battle.
"Charmander, return!" called Rainbow, using the Pokéball Fluttershy gave her, "You did a great job, Buddy."
"Bounsweet, return," said Applejack, "Well, it looks like we're back to a regular battle, huh?"
Rainbow causally twisted her hat around backwards, "Dewpider, use Infestation!"
"Dew!" cried Dewpider.
"Lil...." Lileep sounded angry.
"Lileep, use Acid!"
A spray of purple came out from Lileep, and blasted towards Dewpider.
"Spider Web!" called Rainbow.
Dewpider spat a Spider Web at the purple spray, which blocked it from hitting Dewpider. The Spider Web fell on to the ground, having absorbed the attack. Applejack looked a bit surprised at Rainbow's strategy, which caused Rainbow to smirk.
"Dodging too much effort for ya?" asked Applejack.
"Maybe," said Rainbow, "Dewpider, use Infestation, again!"
Dewpider let out another Infestation, which increased how angry Lileep looked.
"Lileep, use Ingrain!"
Lileep laid down some roots on the ground, which glowed. Lileep looked less hurt after using Ingrain, and Rainbow realized that it was being healed from the move. She hesitated, and thought for a second. Dewpider's only super-effective move was Infestation, which did do a bit of damage every once in a while, but Ingrain was healing Lileep faster. Her eyes caught the now-purple Spider Web lying on the ground, and smiled.
"Dewpider, grab that Web!" she called.
Applejack's eyebrow arched in confusion as Dewpider ran over to the abandoned Spider Web. She grabbed the web by one corner, and listened for Rainbow's next command.
"Lileep, use Smack Down!" called Applejack.
"Dewpider, throw the Web at Lileep!" called Rainbow.
Dewpider threw the Spider Web at Lileep as a rock appeared above her and smashed into her. Lileep cried out as the Web wrapped around it, and Rainbow smiled again.
"Alright, Dewpider!" she called as Dewpider got back up, "Infestation one more time!"
"Lileep-" started Applejack as Dewpider's attack hit, and Lileep took damage from the other uses of Infestation and the poisoned Web wrapped around it.
Lileep fell over sideways, and it's ominous glowing eyes closed.
"Lileep is unable to battle!" called Apple Bloom, "The winner is Dewpider!"
"Yes!" shouted Rainbow as her friends watching cried, "Hooray!"
"Lileep, return," Applejack walked towards Rainbow, her eyes no longer looking quite as dulled, "That was an interesting strategy. Ah don't think Ah've even seen my own move used against me so well."
"Thought it would be more fun then just using Infestation," said Rainbow, as Dewpider walked over to her and stood next to her, "Plus, it worked great for me."
"Sure did," Applejack held out a small green badge in the shape of a leaf, "For winnin', please accept the Leaf Badge."
Rainbow reached out eagerly and took the badge from Applejack. She smiled, gently pinning the badge on to her shirt, being easily seen against the red fabric.
"Yes!" cheered Rainbow, again, "Just seven more until I can challenge the League!"
"Whoa, you wanna challenge the League?" asked Applejack, "That's a mighty difficult task."
"Well, I'll become the champion anyways!"
Applejack smiled, before sighing, and walking back towards the other side of the gym. Everypony became quiet and stared at her.
"Y'all can go now." she said dully.
"You don't like being a gym leader, do you?" asked Twilight.
"Not one bit."
Rainbow walked up to Applejack, "Then why don't you let somepony else be the gym leader?"
"Ah ain't gonna force anypony else ta be a gym leader 'less they want ta be it."
"Ah want to be the gym leader!" called Apple Bloom from the side.
"Yer still too young!"
"Still want to be the gym leader!"
"How old do you have to be?" asked Rainbow.
"Well, technically as long as you can talk coherently you can be the gym leader," said Applejack, turning around towards Rainbow, "But Apple Bloom needs ta finish school, first."
"What about your brother?" asked Pinkie, suddenly popping up in front of Rainbow.
"How did you do that?" asked Rainbow in surprised.
"Hee-hee! That's a Pinkie Secret!"
"Ah'm not gonna force mah brother ta be the gym leader!" said Applejack.
"Ah have an idea!" cried Apple Bloom, running over, "What if Big Mac is the gym leader while Ah'm at school, and Ah'm the gym leader after school!"
Applejack fell silent before speaking, "Would ya make sure ta do yer homework?"
"Of course!"
"Well... Only if Big Mac is okay with it..."
"He came up with the idea!"
"Wait, what?"
"Yippee! You agree! Wait 'til Ah tell the other Crusaders! Now go have a journey!"
Apple Bloom sprinted out of the gym, leaving several confused ponies.
"What just happened?" asked Twilight.
"Journeys don't need to make sense, Twilight!" said Rainbow, "Now I'm going to the Pokémon Center to get my Pokémon healed!"
Rainbow sprinted out of the gym, leaving everypony behind.
"Is this going to be a thing that she does?" asked Twilight rhetorically.
"Jokes are best as triplets!" said Pinkie, bouncing into the air.
"... What?"