Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Six: Brawling with Brawly
*Brendan's p.o.v*
I finished my battle with Roxanne coming out victorious. My Treeko even evolved into Grovyle! Alex and I were ready to move on to Dewford Town.
''You did well with your battle, Brendan,'' Alex complimented.
''Thanks,'' I replied. ''We're all doing well so far. Let's keep it up and go get the rest of the badges!'' Alex and I high-fived in agreement. We soon found the house that Mr. Briney mentioned. We went over to the house and knocked.
''Come in!'' a man yelled from within the house. We walked in and saw Mr. Briney and Peeko running around playing chase.
''Mr. Briney?'' I asked as we sweat-dropped.
''Oh, Alex, Brendan!'' Mr. Briney said joyfully. ''I was just giving Peeko her daily exercise routine. Have to make sure she doesn't get fat after all. Are you ready to go to Dewford Town?''
''Yep,'' Alex replied.
''Well, let's get onto my boat,'' Mr. Briney said walking out the door with Peeko. We followed Mr. Briney out to his boat. ''Hang on, children!'' Mr. Briney called out. The boat suddenly went from zero to forty in just a second. We were going so fast, we were tearing up! When we stopped, we were incredibly dizzy. ''We're here, kids!'' Mr. Briney called. ''I'll be right here at the hotel when you're ready to go home.'' We walked off the boat stumbling.
''It feels good to be on land again,'' Alex said snapping out of her dizzy spell. ''That must be the Gym.'' We saw the Gym and went over. We went in, but no one was there.
''Where's the Gym Leader?'' I asked.
''Maybe he's on vacation,'' Alex suggested. We then heard some commotion by the beach. We saw a group of girls looking out towards the beach squealing and talking amongst themselves.
''Excuse me, miss?'' I asked. ''What's going on?''
''It's Brawly!'' the lady replied. ''He's out surfing!'' We looked and saw Brawly surfing the ocean. The sight of him had all the girls in a love-induced trance.
''Don't see what's so special about him,'' I said quietly. ''What do you think, Alex?'' I asked only to see Alex under Brawly's spell.
''He's such a hunk,'' Alex said dreamily. Oh no, I thought. Brawly stopped surfing and came to shore. The girls were getting so wild, I thought that they were going to leap on him and rip him apart.
''Calm down, ladies,'' Brawly requested coolly. The girls instantly calmed down and tried to restrain themselves. ''I'm going back to the Gym if any challengers want to fight me.''
''Brawliy, may I challenge you?'' Alex purred.
''Sure,'' Brawly smiled as he walked on. Alex clenched her chest and fainted while smiling.
''I think I love him,'' Alex said with hearts in her eyes. Gimme a break, I thought. I dragged Alex to the Gym.
*Alex's p.o.v*
Brawly and I were prepared to fight. He may be hot but I'm determined to get this Badge, I thought.
''You ready for me, Alex?'' Brawly asked.
''Sure am!'' I called back. Brawly pulled out a Pokeball.
''Machop, let's show 'em what were made of!'' Brawly called as he summoned the small, muscular Pokémon.
''Let's go, Ralts!'' I cried. Ralts looked up at Machop who gave him Ralts an intimidating look.
''Alex, I don't know if I can do this,'' Ralts said nervously.
''You can do it, Ralts,'' I encouraged. ''You can't let fear get in your way.''
''O-okay,'' Ralts replied.
''Machop, Karate Chop!'' Brawly commanded. Machop charged at Ralts with his hand in the air.
''Ralts, Teleport!'' I called out. Ralts vanished as Machop attacked and appeared across the battlefield.
''So, you gonna be a coward and run?'' Machop asked Ralts.
''I'm not a coward!'' Ralts said defensively.
''You're a coward just like your trainer since she told you to use Teleport!'' Machop taunted. I noticed Ralts getting angry.
''You can call me a coward,'' Ralts said angrily, ''but don't you dare talk about Alex like that!'' That's the spirit, Ralts, I thought. Stand up to your fear and don't let others mock you!
''Ralts, Confusion!'' I ordered. Ralts lifted Machop into the air and started flinging him around.
''P-p-put me down!'' Machop begged. ''I'm sorry for the insults!'' Ralts dropped Machop who was knocked out after the attack.
''Not bad,'' Brawly complemented. ''But, let's see how you counter this! Go, Meditite!'' A small, primate-like Pokémon came from the Pokeball.
''Can't I just have a peaceful place to myself for a change?'' Meditite asked.
''Well, that'll have to wait,'' Ralts said. ''We're in the middle of a Pokémon battle.''
''Let's just get this over with,'' Meditite sighed. Kind of a lazy Pokémon if you ask me, I thought. ''I heard that, lady,'' Meditite said catching me off-guard.
''Meditite, Focus Punch!'' Brawly commanded. Meditite's fist then began to glow.
''Ralts, Confusion!'' I yelled. Ralts attempted to lift up Meditite but Meditite resisted the attack.
''Pitiful,'' Meditite commented as he appeared before Ralts and slugging him in the face.
''Ralts!'' I said as he landed at my feet. ''Are you okay?''
''Y-yeah,'' Ralts replied rubbing his face. ''I can still fight. Though, it seems that Pokémon is Psychic-type, too.''
''You should rest for now,'' I said calling Ralts back to his Pokeball. ''Marshtomp, it's all yours!'' I called as I threw Marshtomp's Pokeball.
''Another one?'' Meditite asked.
''C'mon, let's go, buddy!'' Marshtomp said.
''Marshtomp, Take Down!'' I ordered.
''Meditite, Reflect!'' Brawly countered. Meditite and Marshtomp were locked in mortal combat. Marshtomp pushing on the Reflect barrier and Meditite trying to push Marshtomp back. Marshtomp broke through the barrier and pushed back Meditite.
''Now Marshtomp, Water Gun!'' I commanded. Marshtomp pelted Meditite in water and knocked him out.
''Looks like I'm down to my last Pokémon,'' Brawly said. Brawly sent out his last Pokémon. It looked like a sumo wrestler with Pikachu cheeks and tied-up rabbit ears. ''Makuhita, let's finish this!''
''Right!'' Makuhita said stomping.
''C'mon Marshtomp, this is it!'' I said. ''The last battle until we get our badge!''
''You can count on me, Alex!'' Marshtomp replied. Marshtomp charged at Makuhita only to bounce off of Makuhita's stomach.
''Makuhita, Seismic Toss!'' Brawly called out. Makuhita grabbed Marshtomp, leapt into the air, and spun around furiously.
''Marshtomp!'' I called out. Makuhita threw Marshtomp into the ground which k. him. I called back Marshtomp. ''It's all you, Ralts!'' I yelled. Ralts came out and cowered in fear of the bloated figure towering over him.
''Yikes, he's huge!'' Ralts exclaimed while shaking.
''Too afraid to fight?'' Makuhita asked. ''Shameful!''
''Please, Ralts,'' I begged, ''I'm counting on you! Do it for me!'' Makuhita punched Ralts in the face knocking him back.
''This is going to be easy,'' Brawly commented.
''YOU CAN DO IT, RALTS!'' I shouted. Ralts then began to glow. He got taller as the horn on his head split in two moving to the opposite sides of his head. His ''dress'' became a ''tutu'' and his legs became long and slender.
''I-I'm…a Kirlia!'' Ralts said in an adolescent voice while he looked down at his new body. Makuhita just laughed.
''There's no way I'm going to be beaten by a ballerina!'' Makuhita boasted. Kirlia glared at Makuhita and picked him up with Confusion. Kirlia slammed him against the walls and the ground several times before releasing him.
''C'mon, Makuhita,'' Brawly said, ''stay strong! Arm Thrust!'' Makuhita charged at Kirlia while winding up a punch.
''Kirlia, Magical Leaf!'' I commanded. Kirlia released a stream of leaves which homed in on Makuhita. Makuhita then fell to the ground.
''We did it, Kirlia!'' I cried holding my arms out for a hug. Kirlia ran up and hugged me. His body felt warm and comforting.
''Did I do well, Alex?'' Kirlia asked. I nodded in agreement while smiling.
''Impressive battling,'' Brawly said coming up to me. ''Here's your Knuckle Badge.''
''Thank you,'' I said blushing.
''Go to Mauville City,'' Brawly said. ''Wattson is there. He uses Electric-type Pokémon.''
''Just like my mom!'' I exclaimed. ''I wonder if they know each other.''
''Maybe,'' Brendan said walking over to me. ''Alright Brawly, I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!''
''Whoa little man,'' Brawly said. ''I have a different challenge in mind for you.''
''What kind of challenge?'' Brendan asked.
''A surfing challenge,'' Brawly replied.
''Surfing?!'' Brendan exclaimed. ''I've never surfed before in my life!''
''Yes,'' Brawly said. ''A competition to win Alex's heart.'' I immediately turned a dark red. ''Hope you'll learn by the day after tomorrow.''
''You're not going to teach him?'' I asked.
''He'll learn,'' Brawly said walking away.
''What a jerk,'' I said.
''I can't do this,'' Brendan said depressed.
''Brendan,'' I said. ''You can do this. I know you can. We'll begin learning tomorrow.''
''Thanks, Alex,'' Brendan replied smiling. I then started to blush. As we walked out, I thought to myself, Am I starting to have feelings for Brendan? He is kind of cute. Just being near him is making my heart beat faster.