Ouch… Ohh… heh, there people. I, uh… might make this Chapter a bit weak on accident because I took one of my reviewers' advice about KNOCKING MYSELF OUT. Ow… I mean, uh… okay, I'll stop whining! "Evildoers to NOT whine!" so said Wuya! I certainly will not!

CHAPTER 9:

DEWFORD DAZE

Melanie and Roy were at the dock near Petalburg City, ready to cast off to Roy's next Gym Battle. Unfortunately, no boats were in sight! With that serious problem in the way, things look grim.

"Well, Roy, any bright ideas?" Melanie asked.

"I have no clue." he stated matter-of-factly.

"Although… we could use your Water Pokemon."

"Carvanha can't pull us, you idiot! And my other Pokemon, Mudkip and Poochyena, can't either…"

Roy put his finger on his chin. Suddenly, outta nowhere, the idea bell rang, along with a flashin' light bulb poppin' up!

"Got it! If Machop, Poochyena, and Surskit cut down enough trees, we could make a raft on which you and I could sit on and have your Mudkip and Carvanha pull if they can!"

"Yeah! But, um… I don't think they can pull us both, much less us plus a raft!" Melanie cried.

"Hmm… Machop could push!"

The two agreed. Melanie sent out her dog Poochyena, and Roy sent out Machop and Surskit.

"Ready, guys?" they asked their Pokemon, who nodded in response.

Machop used Low Kick to knock trees over and Karate Chop to get the logs evenly edged. Poochyena used Bite and Tackle to knock them over and had Machop cut them since he couldn't. Surskit used Water Pulse to soften clay dirt into clay mud to keep the logs together, and Quick Attack to grab vines to tie it all off.

Once the six logs had been put together and the provisions were onboard, Roy and Melanie recalled Surskit and Poochyena. Melanie took out her Mudkip and Carvanha. Mudkip was a cute, blue Pokemon with a big head fin and tail fin, along with orange patches on his cheeks with three spikes. After they began swimming with some vines as attachments, Machop pushed from the back. Their speed was a surprising 42.3 mph!

"So, Roy…" Melanie began, looking at Roy, whose cloak was flapping a bit.

"Yeah, Mel?" he asked, calling her by her "nickname", as he would've told you.

"Heh… I noticed that you were a bit mad back on Route 102. Why?"

"You were spying on me, weren't you?"

Melanie blushed. The ex-Team Aqua was glad Roy didn't treat her like dirt.

"Anyway, my rival had beaten me in a battle. Since she was a girl, that hurt enough!"

Melanie frowned at this and cleared her throat to get his attention.

"Um… sorry. Worse than that, she took the rest of my money as her prize!"

"Ouch. That musta stung. Ya over it?"

"With Surskit and Machop, I'll beat the stuffing outta her! Gya ha ha ha!" Roy laughed.

A sweatdrop appeared on Melanie's head.

- - - - -

Later, in the evening, Roy and Melanie had reached Dewford, but couldn't make it to the Pokemon Center before it closed. Therefore, they had to sleep in… (Beethoven's 5th again) Granite Cave! Only 'cuz it was raining. Otherwise, they coulda pitched a tent. However, Roy thought of one final scheme to do before challenging the Gym Leader…

Author: I know, this Chapter was blah, but review anywho! Oh, great, I rhymed! Anyway, reviews aren't timed! Oh, perfect, what am I? William Shakespeare Jr., no lie! Uh… phooey kablooey…