After they had finished eating, they walked around Mauville, looking for something good to do, when Flannery suddenly asked, "Why'd you ask so nervous around Wattson?"

Johnny looked at her and said, "Come again?"

"You said sir and mister, and you stared at the ground the entire time. Why?"

Johnny shrugged. "I dunno, it's just something…"

"You beat him in battle. The least you could do is look him in the eye."

He looked at her. "I only beat him because you convinced me to battle him."

"And did you enjoy it?"

"Immensely, but-"

Flannery chuckled. "Then what's the problem?"

"Because you got him to fall!"

She gave him an odd look. "What?"

Johnny sighed. "I'm not good enough to beat a Gym Leader, so you talked him into taking a dive. I'm not that good…"

She stopped him, and he looked into her fiery red eyes. "You are that good! All I said to Wattson was that you were coming to challenge him, nothing more. You're a skilled Trainer!"

"Then why can't I beat you?!"

She blinked, and he continued, "I've been battling against you since we were kids, and I have never beaten you! You convinced me to challenge Wattson, and according to him, the level of my Pokémon is closer to a Trainer with seven badges. And since you're the fourth Gym in the region…"

She rolled her eyes. "That's an easy answer: You're not the only one who trains?"

He blinked, and she said, "Johnny, I knew since we were kids that in order to win against you, I had to constantly train. My Pokémon are just as powerful as yours, if not just a little more."

Johnny said, "Really? So…all I gotta do is train more?"

She nodded, and Johnny felt excitement building inside him, which he couldn't really contain. "I challenge you!"

She looked at him. "What?"

"You and me, full battle, right here, right now!"

She chuckled. "You seriously wanna battle?"

He nodded, and she laughed. "Alright, let's do it!"

He grinned. "Great! Let's head out to the main courtyard, there's more area there."

She nodded, and the two of them went outside to behold the center of Mauville, a grassy area with benches. Johnny and Flannery stood opposite each other, and Flannery said, "Let's go, Magcargo!"

She threw a Ball, and a red slug with rocks on its back appeared. Johnny picked a Ball and threw it, revealing a Pokémon with large hands named Hariyama. "Alright, Makit, no mercy!"

She chuckled. "Makit? Really?"

He sighed. "Trade."

She nodded in understanding. You couldn't change the nickname of a Pokémon that had been traded, for some reason. "No matter. Magcargo, Shell Smash!"

Magcargo retreated inside its shell and burst through it, decreasing its defensive capabilities but increasing its attacking and speed. Johnny gulped and said, "Makit, Force Palm!"

Makit charged at Magcargo, but it dodged as Flannery called out, "Flamethrower!" sending a wave of fire towards Makit. It wasn't fast enough to dodge and was enveloped in flame. Johnny cried out, "Makit!" and as the fire died, Johnny saw that Makit was burned, which would periodically do damage. Johnny chuckled. "Thanks, Flannery!"

She gave him a confused look, and he said, "It has the ability Guts, which raises its attack when inflicted with a status ailment, such as a burn."

She grimaced. "Doesn't mean anything if you can't hit Magcargo! Body Slam!"

Magcargo charged at Makit, and Johnny sighed and said, "Makit."

Makit nodded and grabbed the charging Pokémon, then threw it straight up, preparing to hit it with a Force Palm once it came back down. Flannery called out, "Magcargo, use Flamethrower to soften the fall!" A wave of fire burst from the slug's mouth, and as it landed, Makit hit it with its palm, sending the slug into a wall and knocking it out.

Flannery sighed and recalled the slug, saying to the Poke Ball, "Nice job. Get a good rest." She put the Ball away and said, "Well done, Johnny. Try and beat this next one! Camerupt!"

A large camel appeared, and Johnny recalled Makit. "Go, Iusoru!" The Wailmer appeared and looked at the Camerupt with an odd look. "Uh…Iusoru?"

Iusoru seemed to laugh and hit the Camerupt with a Water Pulse. The Camerupt growled and shot fire from its back, sending it everywhere, including towards the Trainers. Johnny called out, "Flannery, look out!"

Some of the fire grazed her skin and some landed on her and stayed. "Flannery!" Johnny rushed over to her, recalling the two Pokémon as he did so. He picked her up and ran into the nearby Pokémon Center. "Nurse Joy!"

She turned and saw Flannery. "What happened?"

"Battle got a little out of hand. My Wailmer hit her Camerupt with a Water Pulse before the battle had started, and it responded with an eruption which also hit Flannery. I think she'll be okay, but can you look her over to be sure?"

Nurse Joy nodded. "No problem. You're a good friend to be concerned."

Johnny nodded, and Flannery drew a painful breath and muttered, "Definitely second, possibly third…Camerupt eruptions are pretty hot."

Nurse Joy took her back, and Johnny sat in one of the chairs, anxious to hear news, hopefully good.