Trainers, what does Guts do?

a) It boosts your Courage.
b) It boosts your Attack while inflicted with a status ailment.
c) It boosts your attack at the cost of accuracy.

Brendan and May recruited the help of a Mr Briney to make their deliveries. First stop was Dewford. Upon discussion with the townsfolk, Brendan and May found out that Steven was holed up in Granite Cave.

"…Brendan, I know we ought to stick together, but if we both go into Granite Cave, we're going to get separated completely," May thought. In a dark cave with no visibility, her train of thought made sense.

"Then… what does the person who doesn't go in do?" Brendan asked. May gave him her Ralts, and ran into the cave with Steven's letter.

"Gym?" Brendan shouted after her. May didn't respond.

"Yo, dude! Whattup?" Brawly asked Brendan, as the latter entered the Gym.

"A friend of mine went into Granite Cave without leaving me much direction. Honestly, I'm challenging you because it makes the most sense."

"Tough break, buddy. So… we're doing that battle, huh?"

LEADER BRAWLY would like to battle!

LEADER BRAWLY sent out MACHOP!

Go! RALTS!

Ralts let out a tuft of energy.

RALTS TRACED MACHOP's GUTS!

Ralts used her newfound courage to quickly fling a flurry of Confusion attacks at the Machop, KOing it.

LEADER BRAWLY sent out MAKUHITA!

Ralts sent out a Confusion at the same time Makuhita used Knock Off. Both Pokémon were at critical status. Makuhita rushed towards Ralts, hoping to finish it off…

But got taken down in its confusion.

LEADER BRAWLY was defeated!

Yes. Yes! YES! The young Ralts cheered.

What? RALTS is evolving!

Time stood still, as the little Ralts got taller with each hop it was doing. It's dress didn't extend down, but out, ending it in more of a skirt. Her hair, which prior had fallen down her face, parted, allowing her deep red eyes to become visible.

Congratulations! Your RALTS evolved into KIRLIA!

"Well, dude, I'm impressed. Not the conventional definition of Guts, but it worked in your favour. For this funky victory, accept this: the Knuckle Badge!" Brawly threw a blue badge with a red circle towards Brendan. It looked like a boxing glove.

"With this baby, dark caves will be nothing to you!"

"Dark caves… May's still in there! Thanks for the light source!"

Brendan entered the Granite Cave, using the Knuckle Badge as a light source. He was promptly scolded for doing this by a tiny, silver Pokémon.

"And who might you be?"

"I? I'm an Aron. And I'll be helping you through this dungeon, if it means you put that light out!"

Kirlia translated, and Brendan nodded. Putting the Knuckle Badge into its Badge Case, he used the Aron's help to find May… in front of him.

"Boy, I'm slow," Brendan sighed. May nodded, stating that she had delivered the letter.

"Well, I'm out of here!" Aron stated. Brendan raised an eyebrow, and threw a Pokéball in his general direction.

… … … …Gotcha! ARON was caught!

"Rocky… we have plans for you yet!"

Brendan and May's next stop was Slateport City, a bustling port town. They soon learned that all was not well, though: Team Aqua was taking over the Oceanic Museum. Brendan and May rushed right in.

"Captain Stern, are you alright?" May asked, as soon as they reached him.

"Yes, he's fine. But you two lovebirds aren't!" a deep-throated voice stated from the entrance. The speaker was a bearded man, clad in a blue tuxedo and the bandana of Team Aqua.

"And what might your name be when you're at home?" Brendan asked.

"I? I am Archie, leader of Team Aqua: the visionaries who seek to expand the seas. We must provide more habitats for the Water Pokémon. And so sorry to inform you, but we need those Goods you have in your hands!"

"Well, I'm afraid that we won't let you get them!" Brendan roared, holding out a Pokéball of his.

"I will," May said.

"…What? Are you insane? Listen to these freaks? Who are you, and what have you done with the scientist's daughter?" Brendan asked.

"Brendan, can you not see it? Oceans as far as the eye can see… those beautiful sunsets, visible all over the world! Who wouldn't want that?"

"…OK, girl, you are insane. Give me the Goods!" Brendan commanded.

"No. Leader Archie needs them. Captain Stern can order some more."

"May… if you won't listen to reason, I shall resort… to force. At your ready!"

TEAM AQUA MAY would like to battle!

TEAM AQUA MAY sent out MARSHTOMP!

Go! SHROOMISH!

May was at the disadvantage this time. Shroomish promptly demonstrated this by using a Mega Drain that one hit destroyed Marshtomp.

"New recruit! Take this! It's our Grass counter!" Archie encouraged, throwing out a Pokémon for May.

TEAM AQUA MAY sent out ZUBAT!

Zubat easily destroyed Shroomish before Brendan could react. Shroomish, to spite the foe, triggered Effect Spore, paralysing the Zubat.

Go! Rocky!

Rocky, the Aron Brendan had only recently caught, looked at the pathetic Zubat. He shrugged, and sent rocks tumbling onto the pathetic being.

TEAM AQUA MAY sent out KIRLIA!

The opposing KIRLIA TRACED Rocky's ROCK HEAD!

"I regret letting that evolve," Brendan sighed.

"I would've let it evolve now, in that case." Kirlia used a Confusion attack, which Aron went and ignored. Aron used a Metal Claw, dealing much more effective damage.

TEAM AQUA MAY was defeated!

"…No. Just… no. Leader Archie, forgive me!" May cried out.

"You are forgiven. That was… come with me, May. I think we can make you an opponent Brendan can't beat yet. Let them keep the parts."

The correct answer is b) It boosts your Attack while inflicted with a status ailment. What on earth is Courage, anyway?

Next time, on Sunny With A Chance of Thunderstorms, we meet the chubby master of dynamos.