Our heroes are getting closer and closer to Texstar City for Davis' sixth gym battle. At the moment, they've stopped in a local town. Using the opportunity to get ready, Davis is getting in some battle practice.

"Mightyena, Iron Tail!" Davis called. Mightyena went at Cletus and Grimer doing some sparing. Mightyena smashed its tail against Grimer while Grimer tried to endure the attack.

"Grimer, Poison Gas!" Cletus called.

"Grimer!" Grimer breathed out a poisonous gas, but Mightyena moved around and was avoiding the gas.

"Nice work, Mightyena. Keep up the good work." Davis said.

"Mightyena surely is doing well. Grimer, I say it's time we step it up." Cletus said with Grimer getting ready to attack again.

"Hey, Cletus." All of them stopped what they were doing to see who was talking to Cletus. To his surprise, it was none other than his younger brother.

"Clyde? What are you doing here?" Cletus said as he surely wasn't expecting his brother.

"What do you think? I'm here to take you back to the gym." Clyde said. Take Cletus back to the gym? What is this about?

Pokemon

It's a battle, win or lose

It's the friends you make

It's the road you choose

We've got the right stuff

So make your mind up

And find the courage inside of you.

If you're strong, you'll survive

And you'll keep your dream alive

Let the battle begin

Pokemon

Be the best you can be and find your destiny

It's the master plan

The power's in your hand

Pokemon

(Davis' voice) Brotherly Guidance

"What are you talking about, Clyde?" Cletus said. "What do you mean take me back to the gym? I never called home or said anything about returning."

"Yeah, but I thought it was time you did come home." Clyde said. "You've been on this journey for a long time and I thought it was time for you to come back. Surely you got what you were looking for by now."

"Uh... Not really." Cletus said as he wasn't understanding any of this.

"Cletus is still traveling with us. We're still in the middle of our journey." Tetsu said. "Cletus also just said that he didn't say anything about returning back home already."

"You can't just come around and say that you're taking Cletus home, even if you are his brother." Davis said.

"Well, how about a battle then?" Clyde said as he held out a pokeball. "Show me if this journey of yours really is helping you. I bet once I beat you, you'll be more obliged to come home and see this journey isn't helping. You don't need to fix something that isn't broken." Cletus didn't quite understand what was happening with his brother. This is all moving a little fast.

"Okay, Clyde. Maybe battling you will help me understand what all of this is about." Cletus said. The two of them stood apart and were ready to battle each other. "Sandile, let's go!"

"Sandile!"

"It's been a long time, Sandile." Clyde said as he was happy to see it again. "It's too bad I have to beat you. Silicobra, let's go!"

"Sili!"

"Who's that pokemon?" Davis said as he took out his pokedex.

"Silicobra, the Sand Snake Pokemon. A ground-type. Silicobra actually swallows sand while it digs around and actually keeps it in the pouch around its neck."

"Since you took Sandile with you, the gym needed a couple new ground-types and dark-types, but you remember Silicobra." Clyde said.

"How could I forget, but we're not here for a trip down memory lane." Cletsu said. "Sandile, Rock Tomb!"

"Sandile!" Sandile started the battle as it formed rocks and threw it right at Silicobra.

"Use Dig to dodge!" Clyde said. Silicobra dived into the ground and started digging around and avoided the rocks.

"We can use Dig too!" Clyde said. Sandile started digging and both of them were underground. Suddenly, an explosion underground happened and Silicobra was the one sent flying out. Not what Clyde expected. "Now use Bite!" Sandile shot out and bit the end of Silicobra's tail with some damage being dealt.

"Fight back, Silicobra! Mud Shot!" Clyde ordered. Silicobra unleashed blasts of mud from its mouth, but Sandile let go of Silicobra's tail and avoided the attack. "Try using Headbutt!"

"Sandile, Rock Tomb to block Silicobra!" Cletus said. Silicobra tried bashing its head against Sandile, but Sandile formed those rocks again and piled them right into Silicobra's path. That caused Silicobra to damage itself. "Finish this with Dig!" Sandile started digging again. When Sandile emerged, it knocked Silicobra into the air and finished the battle right there.

"It looks like that's it." Imperialdramon said.

"Yep. Cletus wins it." Davis said.

"Blast it!" Clyde said as he seemed really upset. "This is your fault, Silicobra! It's your fault we never win!"

"Clyde, that isn't really fair. Silicobra tried its best." Cletsu said. "A defeat is the fault of both pokemon and trainer."

"It is Silicobra's fault. Oh man. How is the gym going to recover? Cletus, please just come home." Clyde begged. "Silicobra clearly can't handle it." Silicobra couldn't take it anymore as it slithered off and was rather upset.

"Silicobra! Come back!" Cletus called, but Silicobra wouldn't listen. "Clyde, go and apologize to Silicobra."

"No way." Clyde said as he just stormed out of there himself. That now has both Sandile and Cletus worried.

"What was that about?" Tetsu questioned.

"I think I need to call home." Cletus said as he had to figure out what was going on. They all went straight to the pokemon center and Cletus gave his home a call. His father picked up and they told him all about what was going on.

"I see. I had a feeling he would catch up with you eventually." Cletus' father claimed.

"Do you know what's going on with Clyde, Dad?" Cletus asked.

"Ever since you left on your journey, Clyde and I split the work that comes with the gym." His father explained. "However, Clyde has been on a losing streak lately. He understands that a gym leader's not suppose to win, but all those defeats have been getting to him. He's even heard people say that the Pennsilia Gym has become easy to beat. He thought things were going well back when you were the gym leader."

"So this is about the gym's reputation, not to mention the frustration that comes from constantly losing." Tetsu said.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll take it from here." Cletus said as he ended the call. Cletus looked down and saw that Sandile was just as worried about Clyde. "Come on, Sandile. Let's go talk to my brother."

...

Clyde

Clyde just sat on a bench and thought about what happened. He's tired of losing, but he just isn't sure what he can do. Since he couldn't convince Cletus to come back, he isn't sure what he's going to do now.

"Sandile." Clyde snapped out of his thoughts and saw Sandile between his legs. He looked up and saw Cletus standing there as well. Clyde could tell just by looking at his brother that he knows.

"You called Dad, didn't you?" Clyde said.

"I did." Cletus said as he sat next to his brother with Davis and the others just staying back. "So you wanted me to return to the gym to try and restore the gym's reputation. You think you're failing it."

"I know it was selfish of me to ask, but the gym was working a lot better when you were the gym leader." Clyde said. "Dad tries his best, but he's also got the restaurant part to think about. I've tried my best, but I can't seem to win for some reason."

"But you understand that winning is not what a gym leader is suppose to do. It's to test trainer and pokemon, bring out their best." Cletus said. Clyde did understand, but it certainly didn't help. "I understand that it's frustrating to lose, but there are other benefits to it. In fact, I'm sure Sandile here remembers a certain incident."

"Sandile." Sandile does know and they all remember.

"Remember when we first met Sandile. You ended up falling down a hole and it didn't seem like you could get out." Cletus said. They all remembered that well. The two of them were exploring when they were kids, but Clyde ended up falling down a hole and it seemed like he was trapped. "I was ready to run back to get Mom and Dad for help, but that was when Sandile popped out. Sandile dug away for you to climb out." They both remember that well with Sandile sticking its head out of the ground and them meeting it for the first time, and it kindly helped Clyde by giving it a way out. "We were both so grateful to Sandile that we took it home with us, and Sandile became my partner."

"I remember all of that, but what does that have to do with now?" Clyde asked.

"There are other benefits that can be harder to see in what we do." Cletus said as he reached down and placed Sandile in his lap. "If we haven't gone exploring, if you hadn't fell in that hole, I wouldn't have met my partner. In a way, it's thanks to you that Sandile and I found each other. I'm sure you and Silicobra have that special bond as well, but you can't blame Silicobra for your defeats." Clyde was starting to see it and could see he owed Silicobra a great apology.

"I think that's where we step in." Davis said as he pulled out one of his pokemon. "Venomoth, help us out!"

"Venomoth!"

"Venomoth, fly around and try to find Silicobra!" Davis said with Venomoth flying off and searching to find Silicobra.

...

Silicobra

After Clyde just blamed Silicobra for the defeat, Silicobra just slithered away and was resting in the park. It didn't seem like Silicobra was going to be ready to forgive Clyde.

"Venomoth!" Silicobra looked up and spotted Venomoth, alerting others of its presence.

"Silicobra! There you are!" Silicobra saw Clyde and the others heading for it. However, Silicobra just turned away and ignroed them.

"Silicobra, Clyde has something he wants to say to you." Cletus said with Clyde dropping down to look it in the eye.

"Silicobra, I'm sorry about earlier. I was just mad and frustrated. We haven't exactly had it easy, as you can see." Clyde said. He tried reaching out for Silicobra, but Silicobra snapped its jaws and caused Clyde to back off.

"I don't think Silicobra is ready to forgive just yet." Tetsu said.

"But I really am sorry." Clyde said, but it doesn't seem like Silicobra is going to forgive Clyde so easily. However, Sandile walked over to Silicobra and tried talking to Silicobra. The two of them talked back and forth about the situation.

"What are they saying?" Davis asked.

"Sandile is trying to get Silicobra to forgive Clyde." Imperialdramon translated. "Just like how Cletus helps out, Sandile wants to help Clyde. After all, Sandile is part of the family and wants to help."

"Silicobra, Clyde has been having it rough. While he shouldn't have blamed you, I think maybe a valuable lesson learned the hard way is just what is needed." Cletus claimed. "What do you say we have another battle and see how this one goes? Please give Clyde another chance." He tried reasoning with Silicobra into this and it seems to have worked as it seemed like Silicobra is willing to give the chance. That was good news for Clyde. With that, they took their positions to have another battle. "Are you ready this time?"

"I sure hope so." Clyde said. "Well, let's do this. Silicobra, let's start this with Mud Shot!" Silicobra started the attack as it fired mud right at Sandile. Sandile tried its best to endure as the mud blasted against it.

"Sandile, Sand Tomb!" Cletus said. Sandile created a sand trap right under Silicobra and was sinking down. "Now use Rock Tomb!" Sandile formed the rocks and had them came around Silicobra to trap it.

"Don't let that stop you! Use Dig!" Clyde said. Silicobra was able to move around enough for it to burrow its way through the ground.

"Sandile, you use Dig too!" Cletus said. Sandile started digging again. The two of them were heading for each other. The two clashed into each other underground and both of them emerged out of the ground.

"Now use Headbutt!" Clyde Silicobra smashed its head against Sandile. It looked like Sandile took a lot of damage from that attack. "Looks like we've got them now!"

"Stay strong, Sandile!" Cletus cheered. Sandile tried to get back up and keep going. That was right when something happened. Sandile began to glow.

"Look at that!" Davis said as they were all surprised.

"Sandile is starting to evolve!" Tetsu said. Sandile began to grow bigger and was soon standing on just two legs.

"Krokorok!"

"Look at that! Sandile is now a Krokorok!" Cletus cheered with all of them loving this. Davis pulled out his pokedex to learn more.

"Krokorok, the Desert Croc Pokemon. A ground and dark type, and the evolve form of Sandile. Even when it's dark, the membrane around its eyes allow it to see clearly."

"That's awesome! Sandile was able to evolve!" Clyde said. "So, let's keep going."

"No!" Cletus said as he held out his hand and stopped the battle. "This is where the battle stops."

"What? Why?" Clyde questioned.

"Because this is an example of what I was talking about earlier." Cletus said. "Win or lose, Krokorok has now evolved and that was because of this battle. This alone is quite satisfying to me. I'm quite pleased with this. Do you understand now, Clyde? It doesn't matter what the battle results are because sometimes there can be something just as satisfying as winning. Remember that and you will make a fine gym leader when I can't." Clyde was starting to see the picture now.

"Yeah... I think I'm getting it now." Clyde said as he walked over to Silicobra. "Thanks, Cletus. I'll try to remember that. That is if Silicobra still wants to battle with me." He said as he petted Silicobra's head. It would seem that Silicobra is starting to forgive Clyde. Although the brotherly visit was a surprise, it looks like everyone is most satisfied with how things played out.

With his brother paying a visit, and Sandile evolving, Cletus passes on some brotherly advise to Clyde about being a gym leader. As frustrating it is to lose, you have to try and keep in mind that the battle holds value either for yourself or an opponent. It will help Clyde become a good gym leader. Speaking of which, Davis' Texstar Gym battle is coming up.

To Be Continued...