Chapter Two: Sibling Rivalry

Rouge made his way to the edge of Anistar City, towards Route 17, also known as Mamoswine Road, a snowy route that can be traveled through by riding a Mamoswine. Rouge had used his own Mamoswine to get to Anistar City only a day earlier. He pulled out his Pokéballs to call out the rest of his team.

"Alright everyone, come on out!" Rouge threw all the Pokéballs up into the air, releasing his Pokémon. One by one they appeared in front of him: Delphox, Flygon, Lucario, Blaziken and then Eevee joined them. "Alright everyone, we lost our first battle against Olympia, the Anistar City Gym Leader, but we won't lose the next time we face her. We need to train harder than ever before. Once we win here all that's left is Snowbelle City and then we're in the Kalos League and we'll have the chance to face the Elite Four and the Champion! I know if we work hard we can do it. I was also thinking about bring in a new team member if needed, but first we'll see how training goes. Are you with me!?"

All of Rouges Pokémon cheered in agreement with their trainer. Rouge then matched Lucario with Blaziken and Delphox with Flygon for one on one battles while he and Eevee stood on the sidelines to watch. Looking at the form and power of his Pokémon's attacks he didn't understand what there was to improve for his battle. Frustrated with himself Rouge pulls out his badge case a looked over his badges. Thinking about what strategies he used in his previous Gym Battles to erne those badges. But even that didn't help.

As Rouge stood there, looking down at his badges, he suddenly heard familiar voices coming his way. One voice he didn't mind hearing. It was the voice of a friend from back home in Littleroot Town, Lee. The second was one to he wished he didn't hear. Rouges older brother Rodney was with Lee.

"It's a good thing I let you go first Lee. Now I know what strategy I should use in my battle." Rodney teasingly said to Lee.

"That's why you made my go first!? That's so mean Rodney!" Lee gave his old friend a little push in frustration and playfulness.

As the two drew closer to where Rouge was training with his Pokémon his brother Rodney suddenly looked up and saw his younger brother standing there, glaring at him.

"Well, well, look Lee, it's Rouge. Haven't seen you since you left home. How's you Gym Battles going little brother?" Rodney taunted Rouge.

"None of your business! Now go away! I have a lot of work to do and I don't need you here distracting me!" Rouge turned back to observe his Pokémon in battle.

"Oh?! By how your acting I think you've already went to challenge the Gym Leader and ended up losing. That's has to be it or else you wouldn't be sticking around here! Oh, that's just perfect isn't Lee?! We got here at just the right time!"

Anger started to build up inside of Rouge as his brother continued to laugh over his lost. It was always like this between these two brothers. Rodney would always pick on Rouge and make him feel like he was no good as a Trainer. Lee would often be placed in the middle to stop their fighting.

"Rodney, stop it. This isn't the reason for us being here. You were going to have a practice battle with me to get you ready for your Gym Battle latter. Let's go and leave Rouge alone." Lee said while trying to pull Rodney away.

"No! If my brother wants a practice battle then I'll be his opponent!" Rouge snapped as his Pokémon stood behind him to support their Trainer.

"Oh?! Someone is loaded with confidence. Fine, I'll have a battle with you. This will be a nice warm up for my own Gym Battle with Olympia, and it's a perfect chance to show my dear younger brother how strong my Pokémon team is. Let's go, Rouge."

A battle of brother vs. brother was about to begin. Lee watched nervously from the sidlines. He hated seeing the two of them like this. Rouge tightly gripped on to the Pokéball of his first Pokémon he planned on using against his brother. Rodney on the other hand was as cool as a cucumber.

"Alright, I'll go first! Let's go, Flygon!" Rouge threw his Pokéball onto the field to release his Flygon. Flygon let out its song-like voice when he roared.

"I see. You evolved Trapinch all the way to a Flygon. At least you were able to do that much. But, any who, I think this would be the best time to show you one of my newer Pokémon. Let's go, Sylveon!" Rodney threw a black and gold Pokéball, an Ultra Ball onto the field. The Pokémon that stood on the field was one Rouge had yet to see while on his journey. He held up his Pokédex to learn more about the new Pokémon his brother had caught.

"Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokémon and an evolved form of Eevee. Sylveon affectionately wraps its ribbon-like feelers around its trainer's arms as they walk together."

"An evolved form of Eevee, huh?" Rouge said to himself. "Flygon, be careful! We've never faced off against a Sylveon before! Be on your guard!" Rouge warned Flygon. Flygon let out a small roar as he roused up into the air.

"So, this is your first time facing a Sylveon? Then you're in for a real treat, little brother. Sylveon... use Fairy Wind!"

Sylveon pulled its feelers together, and the air around it started to glow light blue. Sylveon then spread its feelers wide open, sending a strong gust towards Flygon.

"Flygon, dodge it and then use Dragon Breath!"

Flygon quickly dodged Sylveon's Fairy Wind and released a light blue beam from its mouth back at Sylveon. When Flygon's Dragon Breath hit Sylveon, Rouge was surprised to see that it had no effect. Still shocked Rouge became annoyed when his brother started laughing.

"Ha, ha, ha! You really don't know anything about Fairy-type Pokémon, do you little brother?! Fairy-types like Sylveon are immune to Dragon-type attacks like Flygon's! I hope that not all of Flygon's moves are Dragon-types or else this is going to be a quick battle!" Rodney continued to laugh at his little brother's lack of knowledge about Fairy-type Pokémon.

"Then it's a good thing that Flygon knows more than just Dragon-type attacks. Flamethrower Flygon!"

Flygon released a red-orange stream of fire from its mouth towards Sylveon. As the Flamethrower went rushing towards Sylveon, Rodney suddenly had a disappointed look on his face.

"What a weakFlamethrower. Sylveon, use Moonblast." Rodney's tone was dull as he gavehis Pokémon its command.

Sylveon spread its feelers wide open, and an image of the Moon appeared behind it. It then formed an orb of pink energy in front of its mouth and fired it at Flygon. Sylveon's Moonblast broke straight through Flygon's Flamethrower and took a direct hit as well. Flygon fell to the ground in defeat.

"Flygon!" Rouge ran to his defeated Ground/Dragon- type.

"Flygon's attacks are still too weak, little brother! You need to train with it a bit harder then what you're already doing. Sylveon, return!" Rodney called back Sylveon and then took out his second Pokéball. "Let's go, Greninja!" Rodney's second Pokémon was the fully evolved form of the Kalos Regions water starter Pokémon Froakie.

"Thank you for all your hard work Flygon. You did your best and now it's time for you to get a nice long rest." Rouge called Flygon back to its Pokéball. "I'm counting on you. Let's show big brother how strong we are! Go, Lucario!" Rouge threw his second Pokéball onto the field to release his Fighting/Steel-type Pokémon. "Lucario is one of my strongest Pokémon I have! Now Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

Lucario put its hands together and created a blue ball of energy. Lucarioe then fired it at Greninja.

"Greninja, Bubble."

Greninja released several clear bubbles from its mouth at Lucario. Lucario easily dodged Greninja's Bubble attack and continued to fire Aura Sphere after Aura Sphere at Greninja. Greninja did the same and continued to fire a stream of bubbles from its mouth.

"This is getting us nowhere. We need to get close enough to land an attack on Greninja. I can't afford to lose to my brother again after what happened in Flygon's battle with Sylveon. Lucario, use Bone Rush! If Greninja bracks through your Bone Rush, use Close Combat!"

Lucario put its paws together and spread them apart, creating a light green bone of energy. Lucario then charged towards Greninja with its glowing green bone in hand.

"Greninja, counter with Night Slash! Don't give in to any of their attacks!"

Both Greninja's hands glowed a light blue and then charged at Lucario as well. Both Pokémon collided in a fight of hand-to-hand combat. Fighting with each other like their Trainer had told them to do. Lucario's Bone Rush and Greninja's Night Slash clashed together with great force.

"Keep it up Lucario! You're doing great!" Rouge called to his Pokémon with encouragement.

"Stay strong Greninja!" Rodney did the same to his Pokémon.

Greninja at one point suddenly broke through Lucario's Bone Rush, giving Lucario a chance to use the second attack. Lucario started to repeatedly punch and kick at Greninja. Greninja quickly was able to dodge Lucario's punches and kicks almost as fast as Lucario was throwing them. But a suddenly stroke of luck was on Lucario's and Rouge's side. Greninja lost its footing.

"Perfect! Now Lucario, Poison Jab!" Rouge quickly commanded Lucario. The tips of Lucario's paws started to glow purple and jabbed Greninja in the stomach with one paw and then again with the second. Greninja toppled over holding its stomach in great pain. This round looked like it was going to be Rouge's victory.

"Great job Lucario!" Rouge cheered.

"Get up Greninja! You're stronger than this! Get up now!" Rodney ordered Greninja.

Greninja struggled to his feet, still holding his stomach like his Trainer had told him to. Although Greninja did its best, the damage was too great for Greninja to handle, and Greninja fell over defeated.

"Yes! We did it Lucario! Great job! Now return!" Rouge called back Lucario with the feeling of great accomplishment inside him. "Looks like I won this round, big brother! I'm not as weak as you might think I am!"

"I would get too cocky there, little brother," Rodney said as he called back Greninja. "you still need to defeat my other four Pokémon! This is going to be a stander six-on-six Pokémon Battle! Now, come on out... Bunnelby!