"Okay, so the next closest gym is in Lavaridge to the north." Brendan said.
"Hold on a second." Ash said, slowing Brendan down. "I'll admit I was wrong about Marshtomp, but you still need to think for a minute. If you just rush right to the next gym, you won't have much time to train."
"So what do you suggest." Brendan said.
"Verdanturf Town." Ash said, looking at the map. "There's a battle tent there, and a contest coming up, along with some trainers likely along the way."
"Verdanturf, that name sounds familiar." Brendan said.
"It was our original pit stop to getting to Mauville before we found out the road was closed." Ash said calmly.
"No, no, there's something else, but I can't remember what." Brendan said. "Whatever it was, I'm sure it wasn't important."
"Well, no point waiting around here, let's go." Ash said, ushering to the door while letting go of Brendan's shirt.
A bit later, just outside of Mauville City.
"Hey, are you two trainers?" A woman's voice asked.
"Uhm, yeah." Ash said, being confused.
"Well, how about a double team battle?" A man asked.
"A double team battle?" Brendan asked.
"Well, you two do seem like you're journeying together so you should be able to work well together." The man said.
"So we battle with each other against the two of you?" Ash asked.
"That's the idea." The woman said.
"Well then, I'm in. I'm Brendan by the way." Brendan said.
"Ashton." Ash said.
"I'm Lydia, and this is Issac." The woman said.
"So what are the rules for this battle?" Ash asked.
"It doesn't matter. Marshtomp and I are unbeatable." Brendan said.
"The rules will be that each trainer gets one Pokemon, but don't take us lightly." Issac said.
"Ready?" Lydia asked. "Pelipper come on out!"
"Let's go Loudred!" Issac said, calmly.
"Come on out Marshtomp!" Brendan said.
"Pikachu, you're up!" Ash said.
"Pelipper use Water Pulse!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Loudred use Stomp!"
"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"
Pikachu sped forward in his traditional style, electricity charging from his cheeks, only to get shot from behind by Marshtomp's attack, sending the electric mouse onto it's back, to then get hit by both of the other attacks.
"Hey! Watch where you're aiming!" Ash yelled.
"Don't get in my way!" Brendan said. "I did have a flawless victory after all."
"Trouble?" Issac asked.
"No. Pikachu use Thunder!"
"Marshtomp use Water Gun!"
"Pelipper use Wing Attack!"
"Loudred use Astonish!"
Marshtomp leapt into the fray, launching Loudred backwards, only to absorb most of Pikachu's attack, only a few sparks hitting Pelipper as it knocked into Marshtomp.
"Oh, they really are uncoordinated." Lydia said with glee.
"Perhaps we should show them how far good teamwork can go." Issac said.
"I think that's a great idea. Pelipper use Water Pulse!"
"Loudred use Water Pulse!"
The two water type attacks combined, washing away both Pikachu and Marshtomp.
"And I believe that is battle." Lydia said, with a curtsy.
"I can't believe you made us lose!" Brendan argued.
"Me? You attacked Pikachu then absorbed his attack!" Ash yelled. "You needed to work with me, not against me!"
"No, you needed to work with me, I just swept a…". Brendan said.
"I know! You haven't let me forget, but in case you've forgotten, Pikachu was able to take out Marshtomp with ease." Ash argued.
"Marshtomp was just newly evolved, you wouldn't stand a chance now." Brendan said cockily.
"Prove it." Ash said. "We aren't far from the Pokemon Center, let's heal and have a rematch, loser got in the winner's way."
"Sounds good to me." Brendan said.
A while later
"Alright Pikachu, I know that Brendan and Marshtomp are our friends, but go all out on this." Ash said.
"Marshtomp, lay the mud on thick, just like you did with Wattson." Brendan urged.
"Alright Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Marshtomp use Mud Slap!"
Pikachu kept low as he sped forward, easily outmaneuvering Marshtomp's attack and knocking the water type off of it's feet.
"Two can play at that game. Marshtomp use Water Gun!"
"Pikachu use Agility!"
Marshtomp slammed his hands onto the ground, shooting a burst of water from his mouth as Pikachu picked up speed to dodge it.
"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"
"Pikachu get out of the mud with Quick Attack!"
Ash had quickly realized Brendan's tactic from his past few battles, and as long as Pikachu stayed out of the mud, he was harder to hit, the only problem was that Marshtomp stayed in the mud.
"Marshtomp use Tackle!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Despite being faster, Pikachu couldn't outdo the larger size of Marshtomp, as he was knocked into the bushes.
"I told you Marshtomp was the stronger one." Brendan said.
"Pikachu are you okay?" Ash asked, not noticing the small sparks coming from the bushes.
"Pi." Pikachu said, rushing out of the bushes.
"Marshtomp use Water Gun!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"That won't work." Brendan pointed out.
As the jet stream launched forward, a bolt of electricity larger than normal shot through the water, sending Marshtomp flying backwards.
"Marshtomp use Mud Shot!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu leapt out of the way of Marshtomp's attack, slamming into the water type, knocking it out.
"You aren't strong because you won an easy fight." Ash said. "You're strong because you learn to adapt to the battle."
"And you know this from experience." Brendan said. "Experience that you won't tell me."
"Look, I'm not ready to say anything, but I had a Pokemon, a Charizard, he was my go to for every match, it didn't matter." Ash said. "Then one day, he left, he found a place to train to become stronger, and I struggled as a result. I hadn't thought about how to win battles without him, because I never thought I would need to." Ash admitted. "There are going to be battles that you won't be able to win with just Marshtomp, and you need to train the others for that battle."
"Okay, I'll try and keep that in mind from now on." Brendan said.
