Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter Forty-Two: Misunderstandings
*Alex's p.o.v*
''You're fighting Brendan in your next match?!'' my dad exclaimed as he leaned forward towards the video phone's screen. ''Wow! I wish I could be there to see it!''
''Yeah…me, too,'' I said somberly as I looked down.
''What's wrong, baby? Aren't you excited to compare your skills with Brendan's?'' dad asked as he cocked his head to one side.
''Well, it's just that…'' I began as I bit my lip. ''I don't to disappoint Brendan if I beat him. I'm worried about this breaking us up.''
''Oh, sweetie. Brendan loves you with all his heart,'' mom said comfortingly. ''I think he'd be more disappointed if you held back for his sake. I'm sure Brendan would be proud of you for being able to move on to the Champion round.''
''Right,'' dad chimed in. ''And if you lost to him, you should feel the same way.'' I looked up and smiled.
''Thanks, mom, dad. I'll do my best for you guys and Brendan,'' I said cheering up.
''That's our girl!'' mom said happily.
''Now get some rest, sweetie. And train your Pokémon well! Oh, and give our thoughts to Flygon as well,'' dad added.
''I will. I love you,'' I said.
''Love you, too dear!'' mom said waving. The screen then turned off leaving a black screen. I closed the phone, put it to the side of my bed, and got under my covers. May came out of the bathroom dressed in a pink nightgown with wet hair.
''Feel better now?'' May asked as she got under the covers as well.
''Yeah. Much,'' I answered. ''I'm going to impress Brendan with my battle skills the day after tomorrow! I'm going to start training early tomorrow morning.''
''Are you going to eat breakfast?'' May asked.
''Yes, MOM,'' I responded sarcastically. ''I'll grab some fruit from the breakfast lobby.''
''Well, good luck with that. I'm sleeping IN,'' May responded. May then yawned loudly causing me to yawn.
''Good night,'' I said turning the light off and covering up. The blankets were as soft as a Furret's fur and the pillows were stuffed with Ducklett feathers.
''G'night…'' May replied drowsily. Soon enough, she was already snoring the night away. Oh great. She's doing her chainsaw impression so soon! I thought irritated by the loud buzzing-like sound emanating from my friend's mouth. That night was dedicated to me trying to drown May out with my pillow.
*Brendan's p.o.v*
I walked down the hall towards Alex's and May's room. It was currently 9:02 am. I needed to talk to Alex about our match tomorrow and how she felt about it. I knocked on the door and heard a snorting coming from the other side of the door.
''C-coming…'' May yelled tiredly. May opened the door surprising me with her bad case of bed head.
''Yikes! Bed head alert!'' I said teasingly.
''Shut up…'' May said rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. ''What do you want anyways? I was sleeping so peacefully.''
''Where's Alex?'' I asked looking behind May. ''I wanted to have breakfast with her.''
''She went out to do some training early this morning,'' May yawned. ''She wants to impress you with her skills or something.''
''Okay, thanks May. Sorry to bother you,'' I said. I then walked off to join Alex wherever she was training.
*May's p.o.v*
I shut the door after Brendan left and yawned loudly. ''Does anyone ever offer to take ME to breakfast?'' I asked myself. ''Nope. *sigh* I could sure use a man in MY life.'' I walked into the bathroom to take a shower and get breakfast.
*Brendan's p.o.v*
I walked through the nearby seaside forest east of the Pokémon League. Wonder how Alex's training is going? Is she teaching her Pokémon any new moves? I thought as I walked through the sunlit forest.
''Gallade, use Drain Punch!'' Alex yelled in the distance. I heard the sound of a scuffle and ran towards the source of the sounds. I looked out from the side of a tree and saw Alex and all her Pokémon together. Alex's Gallade used Drain Punch on a wild Linoone knocking it out. ''Good job, Gallade! You got Drain Punch down pat!''
''Galla,'' Gallade replied rubbing the back of his head. The Linoone then got up, snarled, and ran off into the bushes.
''Good job, you guys!'' I said clapping as I walked out from behind the tree.
''Oh, good morning, Brendan!'' Alex said walking up to me hugging me. ''Sleep well?''
''Yes, thank you,'' I answered kissing her lips. ''You too I hope?''
''Uh-huh,'' Alex smiled. ''I'm just training with my Pokémon in preparation for our battle tomorrow. I plan on impressing you with my skills!''
''Great! Can I watch you?'' I asked.
''Sure! I wanted to try and teach Pikachu Iron Tail,'' Alex said. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes. Out came a Mightyena. The Mightyena looked our way and snarled as its fur bristled in aggression ready to battle.
''Looks like you got a challenger, Alex,'' I said wary of the Mightyena's aggressive stance. The Mightyena charged at Alex jaws open wide.
''Pikachu, Iron Tail!'' Alex commanded. Pikachu's tail gained a silver, metallic appearance before she slammed Mightyena with her tail knocking it down. Mightyena got up, growled, and charged again. ''Now, Electro Ball!'' Pikachu created a yellow sphere and flung it at Mightyena knocking it out.
''Hey, not bad! You really know how to use your Pokémon well,'' I complimented.
''Not bad? We did great right, Pikachu?'' Alex said.
''Pika Pikachu!'' Pikachu responded giving a peace sign. Alex chuckled and petted her head. Mightyena then got up, snorted, and dashed off into brush.
''Yeah, you did do pretty well. Watching you fight and teach your Pokémon new techniques is getting me more excited to fight you,'' I went on. ''But, it's just that your technique is a little off.''
''Technique?'' Alex asked. ''What does that have to do with battling?''
''The better your technique, you can throw off your opponent and stay unpredictable,'' I explained. ''That'll secure you a win.''
''Bah, you don't know what you're talking about,'' Alex said turning away.
''Um, I think I DO know what I'm talking about. I AM the son of Norman, the Petalburg City Gym Leader,'' I snorted getting a little offended by Alex's disrespect.
''Well, I'M the daughter of the Vermillion City Gym Leader! And I think my mom's style of constant attacking is the best strategy,'' Alex retorted.
''I'm aware of that,'' I said as agitation rose inside me. ''I'm just trying to help you.''
''More like distract me from my training,'' Alex said rudely. I felt my agitation turn into anger in an instant.
''I'm a Pokémon Trainer too y'know!'' I snapped angrily. ''I have experience and I think you shouldn't be so rude towards someone whose trying to help you!''
''Oh please, I'm better than you in every way imaginable!'' Alex shouted in my face. Alex's Pokémon just watched us fight helplessly.
''Well excuse ME, your majesty!'' I shouted back. ''That pompous attitude won't get you anywhere in a Pokémon battle!''
''I'm not pompous! It's the truth! Now get out of here and let me train in peace!'' Alex yelled.
''Fine! I will!'' I shouted. I stormed off back towards the Pokémon League. ''I swear sometimes she acts like a real…oooh!'' I made it to the front door and ran into May and my parents.
''Good morning, sweetie,'' my mother said happily. ''May told us that you were going to meet with Alex. How was it?''
''I don't want to talk about it,'' I said in a low tone trying not to take my anger out on the others.
''Is something wrong, Brendan? Did you have a fight with Alex?'' May asked me as she put her hand on my shoulder.
''Mind your own business,'' I snarled as I shrugged her hand off and stomped off to my room.
''Hey, where are you going?'' my dad asked raising an eyebrow.
''I'm sorry. I just need to go blow off some steam,'' I said trying to contain my anger. I then walked off to my room.
Five hours later…
I was lying on my bed watching television. It was about 3:00 pm. Alex's mother was battling a kid's Raticate with her Electabuzz.
''Raticate, Hyper Fang!'' the kid ordered. Raticate lunged at Electabuzz.
''Thunder, Thunderpunch!'' Alex's mother commanded. Thunder's fist electrified and slugged Raticate knocking it out instantly.
''Oh no, Raticate!'' the kid yelled running up to his singed Raticate. The kid then started to bawl loudly. ''You're so mean!'' The kid then ran out of the building with his Raticate in his arms.
''Poor little guy,'' Alex's mother said sympathetically.
''You've seen it here, folks! Larraine once again impedes an aspiring Trainer's dreams of going on to the Pokémon League! She definitely has her father's blood in her veins,'' the news reporter exclaimed. Alex's mother chuckled nervously in response. She's really modest for a Gym Leader, I thought. And I see where Alex get's her beauty from. I shouldn't have been so harsh on Alex. She's a great Trainer. I'll go apologize to her right now. I turned off the television and walked out of my room. I entered the main hallway of the Pokémon League and saw Alex having lunch with her Pokémon, May, and my parents. ''Hey,'' I said as I walked up to the table.
''Hey Brendan,'' May said happily. Alex looked at me out of the corner of her eye and looked away to continue eating.
''Say Alex, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier,'' I said rubbing the back of my head.
''Hmph,'' Alex responded.
''Alex please, I said sorry. Don't be like that,'' I pleaded. Alex picked up her salad and turned her chair away from me.
''So something did happen between you two,'' May realized. ''You should accept Brendan's apology, Alex.''
''Stay out of this, May!'' Alex snapped annoyed. ''He's my boyfriend. I'll apologize if I want to! And I'm not going to!''
''Alex, that's not fair! Why are you being so mean-spirited?'' I asked.
''Because you insulted me and my mom's skills! I can't forgive that!'' Alex replied angrily.
''You know what? You ARE pompous, Alex! And to think I felt bad about earlier!'' I said as my anger returned.
''Whatever! From now on Brendan, you and I are threw!'' Alex said turning away from me.
''STOP TURNING AWAY FROM ME!'' I shouted as I grabbed Alex's arms forcing her to look me in the face. Alex and everyone else looked at me in shock. I was shocked myself! I've never yelled that loudly before in my life! Alex got loose from my grasp and started to tear up. ''No Alex, wait. I'm sorry! I just lost my-'' Suddenly, Alex socked me in my nose knocking me down and causing me to writhe, yell, and caress my nose in pain.
''JERK! I HATE YOU!'' Alex screamed as she looked down at me clenching her bloody fist. ''I WISH I NEVER MET YOU BACK IN LITTLEROOT TOWN!'' Alex then ran off to who knows where.
''Alex!'' May yelled as she stood up and ran after her. My parents ran to my aid immediately.
''Norman, get some tissue!'' my mother commanded. Dad did as he was told and ran off. Blood dripped down the side of my face and onto the floor as I continued to scream. ''My poor baby. You didn't deserve that. Maybe Alex just needs to-''
''No mom. We're done. Permanently,'' I said through the pain in my face. My mom started to tear up and sob. Meanwhile, Alex's Pokémon followed the path to her room sadly.
Update: Hey guys, BigBossMan here! I just wanted to give a quick update and a special shout out. Special thanks to Aaron Crimson for advice on how to approach this chapter. I figured some drama would make things more interesting. Hope you all enjoyed it! Also, check out my new poll on my page! Thanks for tuning in and your patience with uploading! Just been busy having fun with college! So, see you next time!