((Quick Recap: The team met Steven and Malik had a strange dream about some Pokemon having a brutal battle))

I was still sitting on the beach while Taylor, Mawile, Seedot, and Slakoth were asleep all around me. I had been there so long I had fallen back to sleep. After a while I felt someone shaking me

"Uhh... Wha..." I groaned openning my eyes and seeing Tyler in front of me

Tyler clapped his hands "Wake up Sleeping Beauty!"

I stirred myself awake "I'm up. I'm up"

"Well at least one you are" Tyler said pointing to the side

I looked at my shoulder at the still sleeping Taylor and panicked "Gah!"

I jumped out of the way causing Taylor to fall down

"Ow!" Taylor whined as she hit the ground

I didn't want to give Tyler the idea that Taylor and I were like that on purpose. I explained that the last thing I remember is Taylor coming outside to check on me and fell asleep

"Uhuh. And Taylor, you just so happen to fall asleep on Malik's shoulder?" Tyler smirked

Taylor growled and bushed harshly "It... It was an accident!"

"Riiiiight" Tyler nodded

"It was an accident!" Taylor and I yelled

Tyler laughed and walked inside

"Taylor?" I said

"Yes?" Taylor replied

"It WAS just an accident... right?" I asked

"Of course! An accident" Taylor blushed looking off to the side "And nothing more"

"Okay. Just wanted to be sure" I nodded walking to the Pokemon Center with Seedot and Slakoth

Mawile looked at Taylor and smirked

"What?" Taylor asked

Mawile grinned and rolled her eyes "Wile"

Tayloy gasped at Mawile as she followed me inside

"What's that supposed to mean?" Taylor asked

We all got ready for the day and headed for the gym. We had some set backs, with Steven and my strange trance and all, but we were finally ready for me to challange the Dewford Town Gym. We went inside and met the Gym Leader, a man named Brawly. Personally, he gave off the energy of a surfer than a Gym Leader. He welcomed us to his gym and agreed to battle me

"This will be a two-on-two battle between Brawly the Gym Leader and Malik the challanger! The battle will be over when both Pokemon from either side are unable to battle. Futhermore, only the challenger is allowed to switch Pokemon at will!" the referee announced

"Machop! Come on out!" Brawly called out

"Chop!" The Superpower Pokemon came out of it's Pokeball onto the field

"A Fighting-Type huh?" I smirked "Mawile! Let's get started!"

"Mawile!" Mawile jumped into the air and landed on the field

"Battle begin!" the referee yelled

"Bulk Up!" Brawly yelled immediately

Machop raised it's Attack and Defense

"Mawile, Bite!" I called out

Mawile rushed forward and tried to bite Machop but grabbed her jaw and use Seismic Toss to through her back where she came

"Machop sure is strong. Alright, use Feint Attack!" I commanded

Mawile did as she was told and vanished into thin air

"Watch yourself Machop" Brawly said

"Machop..." Machop replied keeping an eye out

Mawile came back behind Machop and slammed it to the ground. Machop gathered itself and charged at Mawile

"Bulk Up again and then use Karate Chop!" Brawly yelled

Machop raised it's stats again and delivered a powerful chop to my partner, sending her flying back

"Mawile!" I gasped

"Karate Chop one more time!" Brawly demanded

Machop ran at Mawile ready to finish it's battle

"Jump!" I yelled

Mawile obeyed and jumped into the to avade the strike

"Fairy Wind!" I called out

Mawile blasted her attack downward and blew Machop out of battle

"Alright!" I cheered

Brawly returned Machop to it's Pokeball and took out another one "Makuhita!"

The Pokemon came out of and displayed it's power

"Maku-whata?" I said taking out my Pokedex

"Makuhita, the Guts Pokemon. It toughens up by slamming into thick trees over and over. It gains a sturdy body and dauntless spirit" the Pokedex said

"Sounds tough. Can you still battle Mawile?" I asked

"Wile!" Mawile grinned

"Let's go!" I smirked

"Bulk Up and Arm Thrust!" Brawly demanded

Makuhita raised it's stats and rushed at Mawile

"Bulk Up again?" Taylor asked

"Bulk Up raises the user's Attack and Defense. Brawly's trying to both keep his Pokemon in while taking Malik's Pokemon out" Tyler explained

Makuhita tried to hit Mawile with it's Arm Thrust but Mawile dodge them all

"Feint Attack!" I yelled

Mawile disappeared just as Makuhita went for another hit. Mawile came back and was about to hit the Guts Pokemon, but apparently that's what Brawly wanted

"Knock Off!" Brawly said

Makuhita knocked Mawile away before she could deliver her attack

"Finish this! Arm Thrust!" Brawly commanded

"Makuhita!" the Pokemon rushed forward

This time Brawly fell into my trap

"Bite!" I yelled

Mawile bit down and on Makuhita's arm stopping it in it's tracks

"Makuhita, get away!" Brawly pleaded

"Too late, Fairy Wind!" I demanded

Mawile spun around, still holding Makuhite having it deal with Mawile's attack at full power. Makuhita felt the full effect of the move and was blown away into a wall

"Makuhita!" Brawly cried

Makuhita was sticking out of the wall in it's fainted state

MALIK VS. BRAWLY! WINNER: MALIK!

"Both of the Gym Leader's Pokemon are unable to battle! The winner ir Malik the challenger!" the referee called out

"Alright!" I cheered

Mawile held up the peace sign while pulling her signature face

"Yay!" Taylor clapped "Malik won!"

"And with one Pokemon" Tyler added

"That sure was something" Brawly smiled walking over "As proof of your victory of the Dewford Gym, I give you the Knuckle Badge"

"Thank you Brawly" I smiled accepting the badge

"Have you decided what gym to challange next?" Brawly asked

"Nope" the twins answered for me

"In that case, how about the Mauville City Gym?" Brawly offered

"Sounds like a plan. Mauville City it is!" I smiled

We went back to the Pokemon Center to rest up before hitting the road again. I was sitting on my bed drawing future strategies and combinations, Taylor was writing in a little book, and Tyler was reading a magazine. For a while now Tyler kept looking over his magazine at me. I didn't notice it at first but I finally caught him

"Why do you keep looking at me dude?" I asked

"Just thinking" Tyler shrugged

I looked at Taylor in confusion and she just shrugged

"So Taylor you gonna watch the sunrise with Malik again?" Tyler asked

Taylor dropped her pen and blushed deeply. I had no comment to Tyler's statement and went back to doing what I was doing

"I mean it's okay if you do as long as you don't accidentally fall asleep on him again" Tyler smirked

"Tyler!" Taylor screamed and chased him out the room

"Mawile! Wile!" Mawile laughed on the bed

"What's so funny?" I asked

Mawile started acting out Taylor when she slept on my shoulder and when she was embarassed after waking up

"Not funny. Now if you excuse me, I have to save Tyler" I said leaving the room

Mawile was about to follow me when she noticed the book Taylor was writing in and grinned devilishly "Wile"

((Two badges down, six to go. Let's see how Malik fairs against the Mauville Gym in a chapter or two. Questions, comments, and concerns are expected and accepted. Thanks for reading!))