My actual favorite type is Fire.

Dragon, with Fire a close second.

No. No, I really don't.

Part of the fun in an AU like this is thinking about what people would go for in their gyms - and coming up with it on my own, to surprise and delight the relevant parties when they read it. Using someone else's design feels... well, it feels a bit like cheating. Sorry.

Actually, I'd list quite a few Bug Pokémon I'd love to have on any team: Butterfree, Dustox, Vivillon, Galvantula, Volcarona, Scyther/Scizor, Pinsir, Heracross, Parasect, Yanmega, Shuckle, Ninjask, Shedinja, Scolipede...

Perhaps it was due to my using dogs and cats as an example, but almost every single one of you gave some form of mammal. I counted one fish, and a couple of birds (all from one guy) but not one reptile of any form. No squirtle, no snakes, almost all fuzzy animals.

As for the one I would take after reading this thread, I feel I have to go with the terrier with the stash. He seems like my kind of dog.

Yes, I am a dog person. Cats are OK, had one as a kid that was the best cat ever, but I car prefer dogs.

Well, I kind of want a Cubone? Just because they're adorable and I feel so bad for them, being all sad and lonely.

For a dog, I'd go with an Eevee (or, of course, any of its evolutionary relatives). The regional dogs are also an option- Growlithe line, Houndour, Poochyena, Lillipup, et cetera.

For a cat, my choice is the Hoenn regional cats, the Skitty line, as they start out a housecat and also end a housecat. So many regional cats start as housecats and end as big cats. Of course, if you prefer a Persian to a Delcatty, be my guest, but do remember that a Persian is as big as a lioness.

After all, cats are clearly the best pets, and Skitty is my favorite catlike Pokemon.

(Okay, maybe not necessarily the best. But I do love cats.)

Because. Bird. Made. Of. Knives. 8D

Other picks include Archeops because feathered dinosaurs, Aerodactyl because flying on a pterosaur would be the coolest thing, Togekiss to help me get some peace and quiet in this troubled time, and possibly Swablu/Altaria because floof.

No more gasoline expenses for me!

They're docile, they're super-fluffy, and they can shock the heck out of people. What more do you want?

Anyone who has ever used a big dog as a pillow understands.

1) It's Psychic
2) It's a cat
3) It's slender and cute

I mean just look at him! Look at that grin! Who wouldn't want a companion so delightfully cheery? Plus, he'll be super helpful if I ever need an extra hand.

I'm not sorry.

I'd like an Arcanine. They're like dogs, only 120% better.

Lookit how cute he is!



And they're based on chinchillas, so you know that's some soft fur. :3

Well, any of the Blissey line, but Blissey in general are pretty good. They're excellent caregivers and very, very friendly. That's why the strange collective of Nurse Joy clones have them. =]

As for particular companionship in dog/cat form, I'd go with either Purugly for a cat or Stoutland for a dog, since they're the most overtly cat/doglike. And Stoutland is a terrier with an enormous moustache, so there's that. =]

...a Feebas.

I also wouldn't mind having it evolve.

Which is fine. Shouldn't somebody who has actually played the games run a gym? At the time of posting, I thought we were just going to be specialized Trainers or something. Although, I might want to hold off on handing over the reigns until I see just what Scape is up to.

Still, if I do magically win the fights with Dragons who, as far as I understand, wreck all in their path, but are crushed by everything in turn, I feel I will have earned it.

You know what? Screw it. Yeah, I'll learn how to fight with these creatures. Am I going to lose this gym? Probably. But if I do, I'm going to go down fighting. With Pokemon.

(Speaking of which, Scape, what am I fighting with? I don't exactly know what to look for in a team, see.)

Because as much as I love the Grass team Scape made for my Gym Leader, it's pretty weak and I've been tweaking my Psychic team for months now.

Process of elimination leaves you with Poison.

You didn't choose the Bug-type. The Bug-type chose you.

---

The Gym:
The Gym here resembles a school... well, a very odd school, at any rate. Between the lasers, flamethrower traps, insane robots, and equally insane megalomaniacal laughter (to say nothing of the honeycomb pattern adorning almost every surface), the gym is one big trap - and it's full to the brim of teleporting Scientists with Bugs to defend their Leader and Headmaster.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Scizor @ Scizorite
Technician --> Technician
Swords Dance
Bullet Punch
Bug Bite
Knock Off

Volbeat @ Damp Rock
Prankster
Rain Dance
Tail Glow
Baton Pass
U-Turn

Volcarona @ Sharp Beak
Flame Body
Quiver Dance
Hurricane
Giga Drain
Bug Buzz

Durant @ Choice Band
Hustle
Rock Slide
X-Scissor
Iron Head
Superpower

Galvantula @ Life Orb
Compound Eyes
Thunder
Sticky Web
Bug Buzz
Energy Ball

Crustle @ White Herb
Sturdy
Shell Smash
X-Scissor
Earthquake
Stone Edge

The Phat Lewts:
While the Blood badge is a little odd of a choice for a Gym Leader to hand out to ten-year-olds - a half-droplet of jasper-red blood on the left side, and a gleaming moonstone half-skull on the right, all set in blue-grey gunmetal - nobody really questions it. The other prize is TM41, Torment, after which Leader Edhelistar disappears in a puff of smoke and avows that YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THE LAST OF HIM! MWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Here's a list of Pokemon types.

However... there are some evolutionary lines (such as the Meowth, Skitty, Shinx, Glameow, Purrloin and Litleo families) that are pretty feline.

The Gym:
This is an enormous affair built entirely of wood, with intricate carvings and murals everywhere, even in the benched seats and load-bearing posts. Students of architecture know the design - it's a stave church, common in Norway and now found in Peaci. The various faithful within (whose confessional booths form an elaborate maze) have come to pray, not to fight; that honour falls to the armoured knights dotted around the place, and to the Leader.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Mawile @ Mawilite
Hyper Cutter --> Huge Power
Iron Head
Play Rough
Sucker Punch
Stone Edge

Wigglytuff @ Focus Sash
Competitive
Stealth Rock
Hyper Voice
Dazzling Gleam
Focus Blast

Mr. Mime @ Spell Tag
Soundproof
Healing Wish
Dazzling Gleam
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast

Azumarill @ Assault Vest
Huge Power
Ice Punch
Aqua Tail
Play Rough
Knock Off

Florges @ Leftovers
Flower Veil
Synthesis
Protect
Aromatherapy
Moonblast

Togekiss @ Life Orb
Serene Grace
Nasty Plot
Air Slash
Thunder Wave
Roost

The Phat Lewts:
Leader Alleb's badge, the Veljusa badge, is unique for two reasons. The first is that it's made from an interesting substance locally called "ecumenical matter". The second is that if you express a preferred pronunciation of Veljusa, you will receive angry letters from a hundred different people offering a hundred different correct pronunciations and sharing the unanimous opinion that you are a dunce. Her other boon is TM99, Dazzling Gleam, one of the few Fairy-type moves on the roster.

For reference, this is what the Veljusa badge looks like:-



Only made of a peculiar metal.

The Gym:
This gym is very open air - possibly on account of the ancient-looking temple having been ruined for some time and exposed to the elements. Dig trenches have been cut into the earth and the Gym is a mess of duckboards, tents, excitable people clutching shards of ancient pottery, and whatever the blarting hell a geophysicist is. In the depths of the dig, though, lies Leader Vowel, dusty books clustered around him, slowly translating the cuneiform on the massive sandstone monolith behind him.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Camerupt @ Cameruptite
Solid Rock --> Sheer Force
Fire Blast
Earth Power
Ancient Power
Flash Cannon

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Unaware
Scald
Recover
Acid Spray
Encore

Torterra @ Miracle Seed
Overgrow
Wood Hammer
Earthquake
Rock Polish
Synthesis

Diggersby @ Focus Sash
Huge Power
Earthquake
Return
Quick Attack
Swords Dance

Flygon @ Life Orb
Levitate
Draco Meteor
Roost
Earth Power
Defog

Stunfisk @ Soft Sand
Static
Stealth Rock
Discharge
Earth Power
Eerie Impulse

The Phat Lewts:
The Diphthong badge is made of butter-coloured sandstone with the shape "/aʊ/" carved into it. Nobody's quite sure why; well, that's not true, people who know the International Phonetic Alphabet know why, but they never, ever go outside. Leader Vowel's other prize is TM28, Dig. Understandably.

The point was to surprise people with this. Saying what your gym "would definitely be" just tells me what it definitely isn't, and besides, that idea's incredibly similar to Skyla's aerobatics tent. Still, I hope you like your Gym.

---

The Gym:
Oddly enclosed for a Flying-type gym, Leader Skarm's is set in a cave system containing a lush jungle of ancient, enormous plants. They form as much of a puzzle as the petrified bones protruding from everywhere, and the Lost World-aesthetic is compounded by Skarm's Trainers swinging down from the cave roof on vines. Deep in the heart of the cave, though, lies a gigantic carving of an extinct Pokémon's egg - and atop it rests the Gym Leader.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Salamence @ Salamencite
Intimidate --> Aerilate
Dragon Rush
Giga Impact
Zen Headbutt
Rock Slide

Tropius @ Sitrus Berry
Harvest
Substitute
Leech Seed
Air Cutter
Leaf Tornado

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Sturdy
Iron Head
Spikes
Whirlwind
Taunt

Yanmega @ Life Orb
Tinted Lens
Bug Buzz
Air Slash
Ancient Power
Psychic

Archeops @ Sitrus Berry
Defeatist
Head Smash
Acrobatics
Outrage
Defog

Swoobat @ Salac Berry
Simple
Calm Mind
Stored Power
Air Slash
Charge Beam

The Phat Lewts:
The Pinion badge is your main prize, and as shiny objects go it's certainly up there; a large mother-of-pearl oval with a feather picked out in silver. Not only do you get TM40, Aerial Ace, but you can also pick one of the Fossils the Leader has in his collection. Choose wisely!

The Gym:
Set in a massive, saucer-shaped building, a prospective trainer finds themselves transported to a massive crystal platform in the middle of a whirlpool. They must negotiate treacherous rocks, watching trainers, and mighty wizzards before reaching the edge and riding the rapids down to the leader's lair below.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Intimidate --> Mould Breaker
Crunch
Earthquake
Waterfall
Ice Fang

Empoleon @ Chople Berry
Torrent
Roar
Scald
Toxic
Stealth Rock

Politoed @ Damp Rock
Drizzle
Scald
Toxic
Rest
Encore

Gorebyss @ White Herb
Swift Swim
Shell Smash
Muddy Water
Ice Beam
Baton Pass

Carracosta @ Lum Berry
Solid Rock
Shell Smash
Aqua Jet
Waterfall
Stone Edge

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Swift Swim
Hydro Pump
Energy Ball
Ice Beam
Uproar

The Phat Lewts:
The A'Tuin badge is definitely not copyright infringement and we'll fight anyone who says different. Check the footnotes for an explanation. As for the TM, well, Leader Turtle will instead give HM05, Waterfall. He's got a few of those, the greedy git. =]

Though, honestly, Scape - I founded the Pyro department. ^_~ I have other themes than elves, you know!

So my main Pokemon should of course be either psy/fire or psy/dragon. Which makes for... apparently Delphox for the former (Victini I think is unique?, and Darmanitan looks, um, dumb), and... wow, nothing at all suitable for the latter?

Things only get worse if I go for fairy instead of psychic... oh, well, can't set fire to everything.

brb, teaching Gallade Fire Punch four times.

hS

The Gym:
Entering through the mouth of a cave (which doesn't look like a tiger because my lawyers aren't that good), what at first looks like a strange trail down soon turns into a massive hall, with diamonds glittering from within the pillars as Trainer and Pokémon alike fight with each other and, occasionally, bow-armed skeletons. Nobody's entirely sure why, but it does make for an interesting maze puzzle before reaching Leader Foo.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Lopunny @ Lopunnite
Limber --> Scrappy
High Jump Kick
Return
Ice Punch
Teeter Dance

Infernape @ Expert Belt
Iron Fist
Fire Punch
Mach Punch
Stone Edge
Earthquake

Medicham @ Choice Band
Pure Power
High Jump Kick
Thunder Punch
Poison Jab
Psycho Cut

Scrafty @ Lum Berry
Intimidate
Dragon Dance
High Jump Kick
Knock Off
Head Smash

Pangoro @ Life Orb
Scrappy
Superpower
Crunch
Gunk Shot
Parting Shot

Mienshao @ Black Belt
Reckless
High Jump Kick
Swords Dance
U-Turn
Rock Slide

The Phat Lewts
Foo's badge, the Diamond badge, is an elaborately-carved light blue gem of some description, matching the ones on the walls that fill his Gym with slightly creepy blue-tinged light. His other gift is TM94, Rock Smash.

Your Gym:

Your name is LEADER RADIOACTIVESUE and you are slightly perplexed at how you managed to make your name fit within the CHARACTER LIMIT. It is not your THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY. Instead, it is your GYM. Your gym is a maze of SWITCH PUZZLES with the prospective trainers having to guide a CLONE through a maze with a SERIES OF SWITCHES, all the while CONSTANTLY ASSAILED by your IMPERIAL GUARD. It occurs to you that this means they must act with the SECOND PERSON.

>>START.

Your Team (postgame):
Mega Pidgeot @ Pidgeotite
Keen Eye --> No Guard
Hurricane
Heat Wave
Swagger
Roost

Exploud @ Choice Specs
Scrappy
Boomburst
Focus Blast
Flamethrower
Ice Beam

Cincinno @ King's Rock
Skill Link
Rock Blast
Tail Slap
Bullet Seed
Gunk Shot

Zangoose @ Toxic Orb
Toxic Boost
Facade
Brick Break
Night Slash
Quick Attack

Swellow @ Flame Orb
Guts
Facade
Quick Attack
U-Turn
Brave Bird

Ambipom @ Life Orb
Pickup
Fake Out
Return
Low Kick
Knock Off

Your Phat Lewts:

You give out the CAPSLOCK BADGE, two right-facing chevrons of glittering EMERALD. You also see fit to give a victorious adversary TM64, EXPLOSION. It seems FITTING, given how LOUD you can get.

>> GYM: END.

The Gym:
This gym is hollowed out of a basalt bluff, though the interior is mainly concrete, barbed wire, and intricate patterns of angry screaming people marching up and down the place. The floor tiles are bedecked with the leader's symbol, the Raven-in-Flight, and they seem to be crystalline in nature - leeching the other metals out of the base's very walls. Brute force is the order of the day... except, of course, when it isn't.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Houndoom @ Houndoomite
Flash Fire --> Solar Power
Nasty Plot
Fire Blast
Dark Pulse
Solar Beam

Arcanine @ Rocky Helmet
Intimidate
Morning Sun
Flare Blitz
Extreme Speed
Wild Charge

Ninetales @ Leftovers
Drought
Solar Beam
Flamethrower
Will-O-Wisp
Hex

Talonflame @ Normal Gem
Gale Wings
Quick Attack
Acrobatics
Flare Blitz
Tailwind

Darmanitan @ Life Orb
Sheer Force
Flare Blitz
Rock Slide
Earthquake
Superpower

Pyroar @ Charcoal
Unnerve
Flamethrower
Hyper Voice
Dark Pulse
Solar Beam

The Phat Lewts
First up is the Tiberium Badge. It's an elaborate crystal that grew into the shape of a stylised flame, and it glows from within in a way that's almost certainly completely fine. The other gift is TM50, Overheat, a powerful move that comes with a cost.

The Gym:
In a direct contrast to Leader Iximaz's castle, this one is big and faintly foreboding, a parody of the bleached-white fairytale castles of old. Within are all the trappings of a warlock; alchemical labs, randomly moving armour, and a bevy of strange women wandering around the place challenging mortals to battle.

The Team (postgame):
Mega Sableye @ Sablenite
Prankster --> Magic Bounce
Shadow Ball
Will-O-Wisp
Recover
Calm Mind

Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Flash Fire
Trick
Fire Blast
Energy Ball
Hex

Golurk @ Soft Sand
No Guard
Earthquake
Dynamic Punch
Phantom Force
Stone Edge

Jellicent @ Leftovers
Cursed Body
Hex
Scald
Recover
Toxic

Shedinja @ Focus Sash
Wonder Guard
Baton Pass
Swords Dance
Shadow Sneak
Protect

Mismagius @ Colbur Berry
Levitate
Hex
Nasty Plot
Dazzling Gleam
Thunder Wave

The Phat Lewts:
The Alliance Badge is a rather ornate affair, an elaborate onyx lion's head with a pearl sigil picked out on the top. However, the TM given to you by leader Darkotas is not. You have a choice of either TM21, Return, or TM27, Frustration. Don't worry - you can get the other one later in the game. Promise.

The Gym:
In a huge, imposing, but still beautiful fairytale castle lies Leader Iximaz - current head of the Pokémon Ranger Corps - and her guard of battle-hardened Rangers. The inside is thickly forested, and conceals many traps for the unwary... though like a true Ranger, you can get out if you trust in your heart and your team.

The Team (postgame-level stuff for now):
Mega Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Overgrow --> Thick Fat
Toxic
Venoshock
Giga Drain
Synthesis

Breloom @ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal
Swords Dance
Spore
Facade
Mach Punch

Leavanny @ Focus Sash
Swarm
Sticky Web
Aerial Ace
Leaf Blade
X-Scissor

Liligant @ Miracle Seed
Own Tempo
Quiver Dance
Giga Drain
Sleep Powder
Petal Dance

Exeggutor @ Lum Berry
Harvest
Psyshock
Giga Drain
Sleep Powder
Rest

Gogoat @ Leftovers
Sap Sipper
Bulk Up
Horn Leech
Substitute
Earthquake

The Badge:
The Treaty Badge, a cluster of oak leaves in green and verdigrised-bronze, is a symbol of your team's strength of will. You also get TM86, Grass Knot.