We reached Nimbus Town faster than we did any other town or city: in only a day and a half.  I wanted to get there and win as soon as possible.  The voyage thus far had been hell.
The leader of the Nimbus Town Gym was named Rex.  He used Flying-type Pokémon.  He, supposedly, was better than Falkner,  who was the best Flying Pokémon trainer.
The gym was not really a gym at all; more like an open stadium.  To enhance his Flying Pokémon's techniques, no doubt.
Kamon and I walked into the center of the stadium, where we found Rex.  'I,' I said, 'challenge you to a Pokémon battle.'
'You do realize that this is the last gym in Gehta, don't you?' Rex the gym leader asked me.
Of course, I thought.  'Yeah.  I intend on beating you and getting the last badge I need to go on to Center Stadium.'
'You intend on beating me?' Rex questioned.  'Well, I guess I should just give up the badge right now, if you're going to win anyway...'
'Sure. Go ahead.  It'll save you time and effort.'
'Sarcasm, you dolt.  I was making fun of you.  You can't just walk into a gym and say "Hi, I'm going to beat you!" ' Rex replied.  I felt rather stupid.
'Who cares?' I said.  'Let's go on with it.  Six-on-six match, right?'
'Of course.  You can send out first, if you want.'
'All right.  I'll send out Ho-oh as my first Pokémon!' I shouted.
'Whoa...I have never seen the legendary Ho-oh in real life.  Amazing that you actually caught it.  It was a dream of mine to own all of the legendary bird Pokémon, but now I see that I could never achieve that dream,' Rex said.
'I only own Lugia and Ho-oh,' I responded.  'You can still try to catch the three legendary birds Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno.'
'Wow,' said Rex, 'you have both Lugia and Ho-oh.  Unbelievable. Anyway, I'll choose Gligar first!'  Rex threw a Pokéball into the Stadium, unleashing the small Ground-type Pokémon.  Ho-oh used Fly, striking Gligar and only doing mediocre damage.  'Gligar, use Rock Slide!'  Rocks pummeled Ho-oh.
'Ho-oh, Sacred Fire!' I shouted.  A pillar of flames struck Gligar, burning him.  He retaliated with another Rock Slide, critical hit, and nearly knocking out Ho-oh.  'Use Drill Peck,' I said.  Gligar was drilled by Ho-oh's beak, but it didn't stop him.
'Gligar, finish Ho-oh off with one last Rock Slide,' said Rex.  Ho-oh collapsed onto the ground as it was destroyed by the powerful Rock-type attack.  Ho-oh really never stood a chance, I guess.
'Come back,' I said as Ho-oh was dematerialized.  'Feraligatr, come out and use Ice Punch!'  That one Ice attack was all that was needed to knock out Gligar.  Now we were even.
'Jumpluff, go!' Rex yelled.  'Use Sunny Day!'  The blue, round Pokémon was released into the stadium.
It was at that point that I noticed that he wasn't just using Flying-type Pokémon, he was using Flying Pokémon that had another type, also; this could give them the advantage over my Pokémon.
Jumpluff increased the sunlight in the stadium, making the dark, cloudy day a little brighter.  Feraligatr used Blizzard, at my command, doing an extreme amount of damage to Jumpluff.  However, Jumpluff then fired a sun ray at my Water Pokémon, doing a lot of damage.  A second Blizzard missed, allowing Jumpluff to attack again with Solarbeam.
'Feraligatr, try to attack Jumpluff again with Crunch!' I instructed.  Feraligatr's jaws clamped down on top of Jumpluff.  Still, however, not knocked out.  Apparently this Jumpluff was either more powerful than I thought, or she has a lot more health than I thought she did.
'Jumpluff, finish off this trainer's Feraligatr with another Solarbeam!' Rex commanded.  Another gold beam of light energy was blasted at Feraligatr, taking him down, too.  The sunlight faded.
'Return, Feraligatr,' I said gloomily.  'All right.  Heracross, I choose you!  Use Seismic Toss!'  Heracross picked up Jumpluff and threw her against the wall.  Still not knocked out.
'Use,' Rex said, 'Slam, now!'  Jumpluff slammed its body on top of Heracross, doing mediocre damage.  Heracross fought back with Mega Punch, finally knocking Jumpluff out.  'Come back.'  Jumpluff was swallowed up by the red beam of light emitted my Rex's Pokéball.  'Go Xatu.  Use Wing Attack!'
I couldn't believe it.  No matter which Pokémon I used, he would send one out that was better than mine.  Unbelievable.  He would always have the upper hand.
'Heracross, Mega Horn!' I shouted.  Heracross charged at Xatu, ramming her horn into the Psychic bird Pokémon.
'Psychic, Xatu,' said Rex.  He knew he could win this battle.  He was calm and confident.
Heracross took serious damage, and only survived because of the Focus Band.
'Heracross, Reversal!' I commanded.  It was too little, too late, however, because Xatu used Quick Attack, knocking her out.  'Return...'  I sighed.  I didn't know who to choose.  Unless, I thought, I could use Lugia...  'Lugia, go!  Shadow Ball attack!'  Lugia struck Xatu with the Ghost-type attack, knocking him out.
'Come back Xatu, and go Gyarados!  Use Thunder!'  Once again, Rex had another chance to get the upper hand.  A bolt of lightning crashed down on Lugia, doing a lot of damage.  Lugia came back with Thunder, too, doing even more damage.  'Blizzard,' said Rex.  Gyarados performed the Ice-type attack, doing an extreme amount of damage.  Lugia was still able to counter-attack with another Thunder, knocking out Gyarados.
Well, that was easy, I thought.  Rex recalled Gyarados and sent out Delibird.
'Delibird, use Blizzard!' Rex instructed.  Delibird blasted ice and snow at Lugia, knocking it out.
I honestly couldn't believe it.  How could his Pokémon be so strong?
I called back Lugia.  I couldn't send out Tyranitar, which left only Ampharos.  Both of the Pokémon had some sort of advantage over Flying-type Pokémon.  'Ampharos, go!  Use...um...Iron Tail!'  Ampharos really had no advantage over Delibird, aside from the Electric attacks.  But Delibird really had no advantage against Ampharos, so it was all good.
Ampharos's tail slammed into Delibird, doing a lot of damage.  Delibird fought back with Drill Peck, but it did little.
'Ampharos, I want you to use Thunder!'  Lightning crashed down on top of Delibird, making him flinch.
'Delibird, use Blizzard,' Rex commanded.  Delibird's repeated attack missed, thankfully.  'You lucky son-of-a-gun,' Rex remarked.  'You're getting all of these breaks.'
'You're lucky I'm not destroying you,' I snapped.
'I'm sure,' Rex responded.
I grumbled.  I hated it when people made fun of me.  But I knew he was right, so I wasn't going to say anything.  'Ampharos, use Zap Cannon,' I said.  A yellow electric ball was shot at Delibird, paralyzing him and nearly knocking him out.  I took advantage of the situation immediately.  'Ampharos, Thunder Punch!'  Ampharos swung its fist, sparks flying, into Rex's Ice-and-Flying-type Pokémon, bringing it down.
'As my last Pokémon,' said Rex, 'I use Fearow!  Hyper Beam, now!'  Fearow shot the high-powered beam at Ampharos, doing a lot of damage.  I still had the match in the bag.  As long as I didn't screw up.
'Thunder,' I commanded.  Fearow moved away from the lightning, avoiding Ampharos's attack.  Fearow then attacked Ampharos with Sky Attack, nearly knocking out Ampharos.  'Thunderbolt!'  Ampharos fired a charge of Electricity at Fearow, but he reflected it with Mirror Move, knocking out Ampharos.  'Come back.  I choose Tyranitar as my last Pokémon.  Use Rock Slide!'  An avalanche of rocks tumbled down on top of Fearow, bringing it (by my estimate, of course) down to half-life.  I told Tyranitar to use the attack again, but Fearow flew high into the air to avoid it.  He then dive-bombed Tyranitar, causing mediocre damage.  As Tyranitar got up, Fearow attacked her again with Steel Wing.  Tyranitar wouldn't last very long, at this rate.
'Like my Fearow's Agility combos?' Rex taunted.
I held up my hand.  'I'm thinking of a finger.  Guess which one it is.'
'Screw you,' said Rex.  'Mud Slap, Fearow.'  Fearow kicked dirt into Tyranitar's eyes, doing a little damage, but lowering Tyranitar's accuracy.  'Now, use another Steel Wing.'  Fearow slammed its wing into Tyranitar again.  Tyranitar tried to use Rock Slide, but missed.  Fearow attacked Tyranitar with Toxic, and then Sky Attack.  My Pokémon wasn't going to last much longer, unless she could finish off Fearow quickly.
'Tyranitar, try another Rock Slide!' I yelled.
Fearow easily dodged the attack.  Tyranitar was hurt by poison.  Fearow attacked again.  Tyranitar fell to the ground.  She didn't move.  I looked up.  The world was in slow motion.  I could feel my pulse.  Rex grinned.  I closed my eyes.  Tyranitar couldn't really be knocked out.  But she was.
No, maybe he wasn't.  I opened my eyes.  Tyranitar was still.  I put my hand on her Pokéball.  I recalled my last Pokémon.
I finally took a breath, and then collapsed onto the ground.  I knew I had lost.  Yet, I still could not bring myself to think that I really did.  I thought that I still had another Pokémon left, though, in reality, I knew I didn't.  Rex had outmatched me.  I had finally lost my first battle in Gehta.