Disclaimer: Don't own pokemon, so please don't sue me. I don't have anything of value. This is just for the entertainment of others and myself.

A/N: I'm finally deciding to update this story! Sorry it took so long. Games, laziness, games, real life, games, and new books; all take up one's free time. Oh, did I mention that I was playing a lot of games? Now story time.

Chapter 7: New Friend?

Brian yawned as he stretched out the kinks in his joints. He looked out the window of the PokeCenter, and smiled at the clear blue sky. After the fight with Steven yesterday, Brian did some more training and was surprised when Caterpie evolved into Metapod.

Once she evolves into a butterfree, I'll really be able to bring out her full strength, Brian thought as he dressed. She'll also be the best backup when I take on the Pewter Gym. As Brian was leaving the Center, for some breakfast, a familiar figure stood in his way.

"Mornin' Steven," Brian said evenly. Steven did not respond, but kept looking at Brian. "If you have something to say, say it." Brian was getting slightly annoyed. "If not, then I'm going." Brian continued to walk past the younger trainer, when Steven said one word.

"Why?"

Brian stopped and turned to Steven. "Why what?" he asked, not sure what the younger trainer was referring to.

"Why did you forfeit? You where winning!"

"Oho," Brian replied as he thought about it. "Umm… no reason…"

"Don't lie!" Steven shouted as he whirled around at Brian. "All my life, people have done what I've asked without question. You where the first to defy me to my face. You are also the first to defeat my Growlithe. So why did you give up?"

Brian looked into Steven's eyes and saw a lot of anger but also a lot of hurt. "I don't kick people when they're down. It looked like you only had the two pokemon, so trying to continue would be pointless. If you are a true pokemon trainer, you will catch and train your own pokemon, instead of trying to buy them off other trainers."

"Then face me again in a one on one battle," Steven demanded. "I'll show you how 'true' I am."

Brian gave a mental grumble. This is not how I wanted to start the day… "Fair enough," he agreed. "There's a practice field behind the Center. Follow me."

Soon the two trainers stood apart from each other with determined looks on their faces. Brian selected his pokemon. "Remember: one-on-one and no hard feelings. Dratini, time to fight!"

"Let's go, Growlithe!"

"First move is yours, Stevie," Brian taunted.

If Steven was bothered, he did not show it. "Tackle, Growlithe!"

"In that case, we'll use Slam." When the two pokemon collided, Brian was surprised to see both of them knocked back by the other's attack. Is that the same Growlithe? Brian wondered. "Dratini, use Thunder Wave." As the dragon pokemon's fins started to crackle, their opponent was already planning a counter move.

"Dodge it with Dig," Steven commanded with a smile. Growlithe vanished underground as Dratini's attack passed harmlessly.

Brian started to become nervous. Dratini isn't as agile as Pikachu, so dodging is a bit out of the question. He watched the field looking for any sign of the fire-type while Dratini got more and more uneasy. Suddenly, Growlithe erupted under the dragon pokemon, sending him flying.

"Dratini!" Brian cried worriedly. "Try rolling!" Dratini grabbed his tail in his mouth and spun himself like a wheel when he landed, until he came to a stop in front of the fire puppy with a smirk. Brian blinked with a blank expression. "That wasn't what I had in mind…" He shook his head. I have to stay focused. "Use Wrap!" Dratini lunged at Growlithe and wrapped his long body around the firedog and started squeezing.

"Growlithe, use Bite," called Steven.

The puppy pokemon's jaws latched down on the dragon. Dratini cried in pain and released his hostage. The two pokemon squared off as their trainers thought of the next move.

He's really trained that pokemon, I don't know if I can win, Brian thought as he glanced at Steven. I've only been a trainer for a week, but I'm sure to get lucky.

"Growlithe, use Flamethrower!" Steven yelled, trying to end the battle.

One shot, Brian thought. "Counter it with Dragon Rage!"

Dratini's ball of flame-like energy collided with Growlithe's stream of fire. The two attacks started to build on one another, until they exploded. The force from the blast was enough to knock the trainers off their feet.

Nurse Joy was working the front desk when an explosion sounded from out back. It was not unusual for trainers to have battles in the practice rings, however there where the few that tended to overdue it. Unfortunately, the pokemon ended up paying the price. She quickly ran outside with a chancy next to her. When she reached the training area, the smoke was starting to clear, revealing a pair of tired pokemon glaring at each other.

What on earth? Nurse Joy wondered as the rest of the smoke vanished to show the trainers, looking just as worn out as their pokemon. "What's going on?" she called out in surprise and confusion.

Brian glanced at the pokemon nurse and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry 'bout that. We're almost finished here."

"You got that right!" yelled Steven. "Flamethrower, once more!"

"Dragon Rage!" called Brian.

Again, the two attacks collided and exploded. This time, when the smoke cleared, no one was standing.

"Jeeze…" sighed Nurse Joy. "Some trainers.

Steven groaned and rubbed his head. He had a massive headache and his body had a dull pain all over. What happened? He wondered as some of the pain faded.

"Oh! You're awake at last," came an annoyingly familiar voice. Steven tried to glare at Brian but settled at looking in his general direction.

"You here to gloat about you victory over me?" Steven asked with a small amount of sadness in his voice.

"Actually, I wanted to be the first to congratulate you," Brian replied.

"What do you mean?" Steven was very confused.

"You won."

Steven's face brightens for a moment, then darkened. "You don't have to lie to me. If you won, then say so."

Brian sighed. He's being difficult… "I'm not lying. We where all knocked out by that blast, but your growlithe was the first one to wake up."

Steven just stared at the ceiling of the room. "You call that a win?"

Brian shrugged. "Officially, it would be ruled as a tie. I have to say though, that pokemon of yours is tough. How'd you train it like that?" he asked, generally interested.

Steven blinked, confused. "Why do you want to know?"

Brian shrugged. "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. Every trainer has their secrets to raising pokemon."

Steven sat up slowly. "You're being awfully nice to me, considering what happened yesterday."

Brian sighed. "I'll admit that I'm angry that you tried to buy my pokemon. However, I try not to hold a grudge. Besides, I worked out most of my frustration over you with the battles."

Steven looked at Brian then at the wall. "You've got a point… My family owns the local pharmacy, so I have access to the items there."

Brian's eyes bulged. "You're giving your pokemon steroids?!"

"No way!" Steven shouted. "… but I did give him some protein and iron supplements…" he almost mumbled.

Brian relaxed after hearing that. "I've read that you could increase a pokemon's stats by giving them vitamins, but it isn't recommended for long term use."

"Why not?" Steven asked.

"Well… there are a lot of technical reasons, but the simplest is: it could stunt you pokemon's growth. Also, the more you use them, the less effective they become."

"I see…" Steven replied amazed. "How do you know so much?"

Brian shrugged. "Most of what I know can be found in books, if you know where to look."

Steven was quiet for a little while before asking: "What are you going to do now?"

Brian thought for a moment. "Well, I was going to do more training before facing the gym. Though, I need to put that idea on hold until Dratini recovers."

"Why are you waiting to take on the gym?"

"I've been a trainer for about a week. So I don't think I'm strong enough to—"

"You don't need strength," Steven interrupted. "You've got type advantage with your mankey."

Brian gave a frustrated sigh. "It doesn't always work out that way. Besides, if Mankey is defeated, then what?"

Steven got quiet as he thought, then his face lit up. "Has your caterpie evolved yet?"

Brian nodded a little. "Yeah, late yesterday afternoon. Why?"

"Bring it to the pharmacy in town later. I'll have something for you." Steven then raced out of the room. Brian scratched his head, confused, but decided to take Steven up on his offer.

Later that day, Brian stood in front of the town's pharmacy. He had waited until Dratini was fully recovered before setting out to meet Steven. I wonder what it is that he wants ta give me, he thought as he walked in the store.

Inside Brian saw various potions, antidotes, and other medical paraphernalia for pokemon and people. As he was looking through the supplies, a woman in a lab coat approached him. She had dark brown hair that was tied in a tight bun and a kind face.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked.

"Um… I was asked to meet someone here," Brian replied.

The woman gave a motherly smile. "You must be Steven's friend. He mentioned someone was going to come by."

I wouldn't call him my "friend," Brian thought, but nodded anyway.

"He said that you're a pretty good trainer. Maybe there's hope for him," she commented as she turned with a motion for Brian to follow.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, confused to the comment.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just a mother's worry. See, Steven's rarely got along with anyone before. It's nice to see him at least try."

Brian said nothing as they walked to the back of the store, and into what looked like a large storage room. They continued to walk the back of the room where Brian saw Steven sitting in a chair reading the latest issue of Pokemon Friend. The magazine was a useful tool for trainers to help raise their pokemon.

"Steven," called his mother. "Your friend is here."

Steven looked up and gave Brian a small smile. "I wasn't sure you'd show up."

Brian shrugged. "You where pretty vague about what you had for me, and I'm curious."

Steven's mother smiled. "I'll let you boys have fun. Just be careful back here, I need to get back to work."

"Thanks Mom," replied Steven. His mother nodded and left.

"She seems nice," Brian commented. "Now what is it you wanted to show me?"

"Ah, that's right. To try and make up for being a big jerk, I have two things for you."

"Really?" Brian was now very interested. "What are they?"

"First, here." Steven handed Brian what looked like a peace of candy.

Brian glanced at the candy, and then looked at Steven with a raised eyebrow. "What, exactly, is this for?"

Now it was Steven's turn to raise an eyebrow. "You've never seen a Rare Candy before?"

Brian's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets. "You mean it's an actual piece of candy? I thought it was the name of a medicine."

"Well… it is medicine. It's just made to look like candy," Steven explained. "It's easier to give pokemon things they'd enjoy, wouldn't you agree?"

Brian nodded at the logic behind that statement. "So, why are you giving this to me?"

"It's to help your Caterpie evolve into a butterfree. If you feed it the candy it should speed up its evolution."

Brian smiled and shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I can't."

Steven was confused. Most trainers where always looking for one of those Rare Candies for the boost it gave their pokemon. "Why not?"

"Well… First: I want to train my pokemon without the use of 'boosters' of any kind. Second: Caterpie already evolved into metapod, remember? They don't eat."

"Oh… well, you can keep that anyway. Maybe give it to one of your other pokemon, like Dratini," suggested Steven.

Before Brian could respond, there was a flash of light and Rattata appeared. "What the-?" The little rat sniffed the air a couple of times than jumped and snatched the Rare Candy out of his trainer's hand. He then started to eat it happily.

"First time I've seen something like that," commented Steven.

"Same here. Though, I have read about pokemon that don't like pokeballs. Anyway, I should get going. I've got a bit of training to do before my gym battle."

Steven gulped. "Um… about the second thing I wanted to give you…"

Brian retuned Rattata to his pokeball and turned to Steven. "What is it?"

Steven looked at the older boy nervously. "I already set you up a gym battle for this afternoon."

Brian blinked three times before fainting with a slightly scared look on his face.

To be continued… hopefully…

A/N: So the chapter is finally up. I hope to be able to tie down my muse long enough to be able to update this story more than once every two years. Thanks for staying and reading. Have a good day, Ja Ne!