The Kakuna MunchMunch just beat had been really scary! It had used a move that made him feel like he didn’t want to eat anymore. Which was the worst thing he had ever felt! Thankfully his Teddy had used something called an Antidote, which made him feel all better!

  He quickly took a bite of his favorite forever-snack, just to be sure. It tasted just as wonderful as it always did! MunchMunch giggled and got ready for the next fight.

  When the next Pokemon flashed out of his Pokeball, all of the Pokemon in the gym erupted into cheering and MunchMunch joined!

  If Beedrill had been cool, this Pokemon was awesome! He was almost twice as tall as MunchMunch, which was bigger than any Pokemon he had seen yet! And he had really, really cool paws and blended in with the green grass!

  But best of all, he was fast. Even faster than the Beedrill. It almost looked like his feet were blurring while he jumped back and forth! He wasn’t very fast, so he thought fast Pokemon were absolutely the coolest. He tried to be fast with his MunchMunch-skip, but it didn’t make him that much faster.

  “Scytherrrrrr!” The Pokemon shouted, the wind wooshing as he flapped his wings.

  “You are so AWESOME!” MunchMunch shouted, balling his fists and cheering with the rest of the Pokemon. Some of the Pokemon laughed and MunchMunch saw some red spots appear on the Scyther’s cheeks. He remembered how that felt on him and how he didn’t like it. He hoped he hadn’t made the Scyther feel bad!

  “Welcome, young Munchlax, to your first Gym Leader battle!” The Scyther shouted, the crowd screaming in excitement. MunchMunch was very, very excited too! He jumped up and down and took a munch of his forever-snack! Well, he tried to jump up and down — but he was too big and strong!

  “Win this battle, and your Trainer will earn the right to carry the Hive Badge and let bug Pokemon everywhere know just how strong you are!” He dropped his voice, “Lose, and you will disappoint yourself and your Trainer.”

  MunchMunch gasped. No matter what, he couldn’t make his Teddy sad. His Teddy did everything to help him feel happy, so he had to do the same!

  “MunchMunch!” He shouted, bracing himself.

  “Do you think you have what it takes? To win? To earn the Hive Badge?” The Scyther cried out.

  “YES!” MunchMunch shouted as loud as he could. “My Teddy had me use a bunch of Defence Curls, so I’m really, really strong right now! And if I can’t do it, Mama Gastly is the absolute strongest!”

  All of the Pokemon went quiet. Scyther blinked.

  *Did…did I say something wrong?* MunchMunch worried to himself.

  Then Mama Gastly burst out cackling behind him and all the Pokemon started cheering too! Even Scyther nodded at him! MunchMunch turned to look at his Trainer.

  Their eyes met. And his Trainer nodded at him. He believed in him!

  MunchMunch nodded back, looking right back at his eyes. Then he turned and faced Scyther.

  “Munch,” he grunted, taking a bite of his forever-snack and balling his paws.

  “Fury-Cutter,” the Scyther’s trainer shouted and Scyther disappeared.

  He re-appeared right in front of MunchMunch and swiped his belly with his sharp paws! Even with all of his Defense Curls, it still hurt.

  MunchMunch gasped and looked up at Scyther. He realized the truth right then and there.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  This Scyther was even stronger than Croconaw. “Tackle,” his Teddy shouted, and MunchMunch threw himself at Scyther.

  The Scyther skipped to the side and MunchMunch fell flat on his belly. Then he hit him with another Fury Cutter, this time on his back — and it hurt even worse than last time! MunchMunch cried out and took a bite of his forever-snack.

  “Munchlax — Tackle,” his Trainer cried. MunchMunch tried, he really did. He tried his very hardest, but he still missed! The Scyther hit him again and this time it really hurt.

  “Ok Munchlax, Metronome!” his Trainer called. MunchMunch leaped up. He bet he would fly or even shoot the giant sun beam! He would show Scyther he was strong and his Trainer was worthy of the Hive Badge!

  Kinesis!

  Nothing happened! No! MunchMunch gasped. He couldn’t let his Trainer down now!

  The Scyther turned and MunchMunch paused. One of his eyes was facing towards the ceiling and looking left, the other was looking down and towards the right.

  “Are… are you ok?” MunchMunch asked. The Scyther shot towards him —

  And missed completely! He kept going and slashed a line in the ground next to him! The Pokemon in the gym erupted! Gastly cheered! Even his Trainer shouted!

  MunchMunch had no idea what happened, and he hoped the Scyther’s eyes weren’t broken forever — but for now he had to win!

  “MunchMunch!” He shouted, waving his paw just as his Trainer shouted Metronome!

  The Scyther shot back and MunchMunch opened his mouth.

  And then… the most beautiful sound he had ever heard came out of his mouth. It was breathtaking! MunchMunch turned to look at his Teddy with wide eyes as he used Sing. Teddy cheered and pointed towards the Scyther. MunchMunch excitedly turned around and kept Singing, watching in amazement as the Scyther closed its eyes and went to sleep right then and there!

  MunchMunch couldn’t blame him. His voice sounded so nice he wanted to sleep too!

  “MunchMunch, come back!” His Trainer shouted in a super loud whisper. MunchMunch gasped and nodded, doing his best to run back towards his trainer as quietly as possible. He only broke 5 or 6 sticks and kicked 10 rocks on the way!

  “Fantastic job, Sweetie!” Mama Gastly whispered to him as she floated on to the field. It made MunchMunch feel super warm! He had done a good job!

  MunchMunch watched what followed in silent awe.

  Gastly started with a Curse and then a Confuse Ray. MunchMunch didn’t like when Gastly used Curse. It looked really painful, and he didn’t want her to hurt. But she just laughed and MunchMunch remembered what Nurse Chansey had told him about ghosts not getting hurt very easily. That must be what was happening!

  When the Scyther woke up, his eyes were still broken. He shook his head, like he was trying to shake his eyes straight, but it didn’t work! Then, he punched himself in the face! And then a bunch of shadows looked like they left his body and he shuddered.

  Mama Gastly started cackling, so MunchMunch started cackling too! And eating his forever-snack! It was really great!

  Then the Scyther blurred toward Gastly, but stumbled over a rock and tripped! Gastly zoomed towards him and Licked him with her huge tongue.

  MunchMunch gasped. He hadn’t realized it before, but Mama Gastly was even faster than Beedrill!

  “Goooo Gastly!!!!” He screamed, MunchMunch-skipping his hardest. She was so cool! The gym Pokemon were screaming and clapping too!

  More shadows left the Scyther and Gastly zoomed around right in front of him. Her eyes started flashing and glowing — and with a Hypnosis, poor Scyther fell back asleep

  He didn’t get up again.

  MunchMunch cheered! He had told Scyther just how awesome Gastly was! And now they won the Hive Badge! He had made his Trainer proud!

  He MunchMunch-skipped to the gym leader with his Trainer and watched as he got the Badge and the stuff that his Trainer could use to get them food later!

  Then his Trainer turned to him and held out the Badge. MunchMunch gasped as he held out his paws to hold it. It was beautiful, and it made him feel all warm inside.

  Not like food did, but because he knew they had worked hard to get it. They had earned it. Together. And they had made their Teddy proud. MunchMunch felt water in his eyes.

  “Good job, MunchMunch,” Gastly whispered as the gym Pokemon cheered. Even Scyther stood behind his trainer and nodded.

  “MunchMunch!” He cried, the water blurring everything.

  This was the best day ever!