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Chapter - 29
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Brendan was standing inside the Dewford Gym, standing in confidence, eager to beat Brawly the Gym Leader. He  already believed himself to be worthy enough to win the Pokémon League. "I am the best. I'm the best." Brendan whispered to himself.

"Sure you are." May said sarcastically. "Hey best, are you overconfident today? Yeah, thought so." She was absolutely sure about Brendan being a little too excited. "Just don't mess it up."

Red and Leaf stood right behind them, remembering their time in Kanto when they had just started their journey. They were constantly looking at each other, smiling, imagining what it was like back then.

September 9, 2013

"You ready?" Asked Leaf, confirming what they were about to do. It was Red's final chance to back out.

"Yep!" Red agreed. "Atleast we don't have Team Rocket around for a while". It was a long day for both of them. They had decided to battle each other to find out who was stronger but were interrupted by Cassidy and Butch. Instead they battled and defeated them and turned them in, to the cops.

"I know." Said Leaf. "Let's get this started. Go Beedrill".

"Pikachu, I choose you!" Red sent out his Pikachu, knowing he was going to win. "Use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu charged himself with lightning and directed it towards Beedrill, who was not strong enough to beat Pikachu, it was a critical hit.

"Yeah! Beedrill you held on, that's all to beat you Sleepy Red." Leaf smirked. "Alright, Beedrill use Poison Sting."

Pikachu was poisoned, he was hurt by the poison. "I don't feel good about hurting Pikachu, I'm so sorry." Leaf genuinely felt terrible.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu was as confident as Red, willing to continue the battle.

"I don't be-leaf you!" Red giggled. "Now that's a good one. Pikachu, use-" Red stopped. "Hey I don't think it's such a good idea to battle each other."

Leaf walked forward. "What do you mean? You're the one who said you could beat me easily."

"I did, but it's because I can. See I don't wanna hurt Beedrill or the rest of your Pokémon." Red tried to talk Leaf out of it. "I know it was my idea but let's just call it a day."

"Sure." Leaf agreed. "But on one condition, if you can name all six of my Pokémon."

Red smiled. "That's pretty easy. You have Bulbasaur, Beedrill, Fearow, uh-" Red went blank for a second. "Um, did I say Vulpix? No I didn't. So Vulpix. And, uh, Beedrill."

"You already said Beedrill." Leaf corrected. "Take your time."

Red forgot the last two Pokémon that Leaf had. He felt embarrassed, he couldn't remember what they were.

"You feel bad for hurting my Pokémon and you don't even know them." Leaf was bummed. "Funny."

"I'm really sorry, I just can't remember them right now." Red apologised. "But hey! I bet you can't name mine too."

Leaf raised her eyebrows. "Pikachu, Charmeleon, Nidorino, Pidgey and Magikarp. Any doubts?"

Red felt more embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I- I don't know what to say."

"It's okay, come here." Leaf hugged Red. "You're so sensitive, look at your eyes, all watery. Here's what we're gonna do, we'll send all our Pokémon outside and introduce them to each other."

"Really?" Red asked. "You know, you're my best friend. And you'll always be."

"I be-leaf you." Leaf smiled.

November 3, 2014

"Why is it so dark?" Asked Red. Except for the entrance, the entire Gym had no light. It was as if the Gym was closed.

"Red, this is a PG-13 book for kids, stop teaching them racism. It's not good." Brendan complained. "Now, why is there no light in the Gym?"

Leaf and May stared at Brendan, annoyed by his behaviour. Red ignored him and walked forward, looking for any switches to turn the lights on.

Red couldn't find a switch and was confused if the Gym was actually closed. "Maybe someone just forgot to lock the door?" He asked. Leaf nodded her head in agreement. "I think we should wait outside."

"Or, we don't listen to the grumpy grandpa here and see what kinds of secret underworld deals happen inside." Brendan argued.

"Or, we go outside and wait to avoid any trouble." Said May. Brendan did not like the fact that everyone agreed with Red, and started to dislike him a little.

"Yeah, I don't care." Brendan walked into the dark. "I'm going in."

The three of them watched Brendan disappear into the Gym. Red was hesitant to go after him, not only because he was scared, but also because he did not want to leave his friends alone.

Suddenly, the lights turned on. Red, Leaf and May were standing right in front of a hallway, with photographs of Pokémon battles on either walls. All of them walked forward, their footsteps synchronised.

Finally, they found themselves standing at one side of a battle arena. The floor wasn't made of grass or dirt, it was metallic. Iron floor? — Brendan guessed.

"Welcome, trainers." Said a man, from the other side of the battle arena. "How are you guys?"

"Good." May screamed, she couldn't talk that loud. "Your voice is really loud."

"That's Brawly, I recognise him from-" Leaf was interrupted by Brendan.
"Yeah that's obvious. Shush."

Brendan walked forward, he was ready to use his new strategy. "Brawly, I'm here to challenge you to a Gym Battle!"

Red whispered to May. "Does he say that everytime he battles a Gym Leader?"

May whispered. "Not only that, he also says that when challenging a local bug catcher." She giggled, so did Leaf.

Brawly walked forward. "Alright, here are the rules. Wait, what's your name again?"

"Brendan." He walked forward, while others walked their way to the seats.

"Brendan. You can't use any special items during the battle. You can only use three Pokémon. It will be a three versus three." Brawly explained.

"Alright!" Brendan agreed. The battle began. "Go Marshtomp."

"Maku, show'em what you got!" Brawly sent out his first Pokémon. May pointed her Pokédex at the Makuhita.

"Makuhita, the Guts Pokémon. It has a tireless spirit - it will never give up hope. It eats a lot of food, gets plenty of sleep, and it trains very rigorously. By living that way, this Pokémon packs its body with energy." Explained the Pokédex.

Brendan clenched his fists. "Marshtomp, use Water Gun." Marshtomp clenched it's fists and faced Makuhita. Then, with all it's power, used Water Gun.

Makuhita was pushed backwards, but it held on. Brawly stamped his foot on the floor, Makuhita did the same. "Maku, use Vital Throw."

Marshtomp was badly hurt. Instead of calling Marshtomp back, Brendan chose to continue battling. "Okay, then." He said wickedly. "Marshtomp, use Mudshot."

Brendan stood with his chest out. Red noticed this stance, and then saw Marshtomp doing the same. Marshtomp stood in the same posture as Brendan. Mud started shooting out of Marshtomp's chest, straight at the Makuhita.

Red was impressed.

Makuhita was severely hurt. Brawly stood strongly, ready to send his next Pokémon. "Maku, come back." He said. "Go Hita."

Brawly sent out another Makuhita.

"His Pokémon are named Maku and Hita, and they're both Makuhitas." Said May, surprised. Leaf then asked sarcastically - "Oh my god! What're the odds?"

"Hita, use Fakeout!" Brawly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Marshtomp, use Water Gun." Said Brendan, but Marshtomp flinched. "What?"

"Hita, use Seismic Toss." Makuhita picked up Marshtomp with all it's strength and jumped up high.

"Didn't think it could jump." Leaf whispered, astonished.
"Body shaming a Pokémon, eh?" May smirked.

Makuhita tossed Marshtomp on the floor, then landed on it's own two legs, perfectly fine. Marshtomp fainted.

Brendan fell on his knees, feeling Marshtomp's pain. Red noticed this and was even more impressed, he had never seen such connection between Pokémon and it's trainer before.

"Marshtomp, you really did a great job." Brendan called it back, gesturing over the Pokéball as a thank you. "You're up, Taillow."

"Hita, use Sand Attack." Said Brawly. He was trying to irritate Brendan, and it seemed to work.

He's using moves that make my Pokémon miss their attacks. That's a solid tactic, I'll give him that, but I need to figure out how to avoid it — Brendan thought.

"Taillow, Fly." Brendan closed his eyes, so did Taillow. Taillow still had dirt in it's eyes. "Makuhita can't reach you now."

Brendan kept his eyes closed.

Taillow, I really hope you're understanding what we're trying to do here. Keep your distance, then quick attack when you catch that Makuhita off-guard — Brendan thought.

Brendan opened his eyes and felt a sudden rush of air on his face, as if he were flying in the sky. Taillow opened it's eyes and the air got rid of all the dirt.

Taillow looked down at Makuhita, who tried to keep it's eyes on Taillow at all times, rotating itself on the same spo in the middle of the battle arena.

Taillow increased the speed at which it flew and began flying in circles. Makuhita adapted to the movement and tried not to keep it's eyes off, even if it was more difficult.

Brawly was confused, to what Taillow was doing. He didn't seem to understand what Taillow was doing. He kept on smiling, assuming that Brendan didn't even know what to do.

Suddenly, Makuhita shook it's head, it felt a little dizzy by looking around at such a speed, almost losing balance. Taillow caught Makuhita off-guard and it's eyes sparkled to the opportunity. Taillow dashed at Makuhita and used Quick Attack.

Makuhita fell to the ground, trading spirals for it's eyes. Makuhita fainted. Brawly was shocked. He never saw that coming, he could've never thought of such a play.

Red smiled. "That's amazing." He whispered to himself.

"Hita, come back." Brawly was ready to send his final Pokémon, but he now doubted his own ability as a Gym Leader. "Go Meditite."

Leaf pointed her Pokédex at the Pokémon. "Meditite, a Meditate Pokémon. It never skips its daily yoga training. It heightens its inner strength through meditation." Explained the Pokédex.

"Taillow, Wing Attack." Said Brendan, stretching his arms out. Red really wanted to know more about Brendan's ability to connect to his Pokémon, he could tell that it was extraordinary, atleast to some extent.

"Meditite?" Asked May. "Doesn't it sound like Meditate?"

"Meditite!" Brawly cried, one could tell that he was really worked up. "Use Meditate."

"There you have it." Leaf whispered to May. She giggled, turning to Red, who wasn't paying any attention to her.

Red was invested into the battle, he was excited to witness the outcome. No matter who won, he was absolutely impressed by Brendan and what he could do. It was not the kind of battle Red had ever seen before.

"Taillow, Peck!" Brendan was getting bored. He believed that all he had to do was call out attack names and he would win, not like the Meditite was attacking.

Brawly stamped his feet to the floor the final time. "Meditite, use Bide." He said.

Brendan had no idea what the attack did, but he assumed that it does not do anything because Meditite did not attack yet again. "Taillow, finish this with a Wing Attack!"

Taillow flew up high at the top of it's speed, then swooped towards Meditite. Taillow's wings started to glow in silver, for a moment, Brendan thought the wings were made out of metal.

Meditite was critically hurt.

Brawly smirked. He didn't say a word, instead he desperately stared at Meditite. Brendan, out of curiosity, stared at Meditite, trying to figure out what it would do.

Red knew exactly what was happening. Brawly had used the move Bide, something Red was familiar to. Meditite was going to attack Taillow with twice the damage that Taillow inflicted on it.

Red eagerly waited.

Suddenly, Meditite glowed pink in color, it seemed to be gathering energy. Meditite raised it's hands and then joined them. The pink-ish energy moved and turned into a bubble, hovering right in front of Meditite.

The energy shot itself at Taillow, colliding and discharging itself at Taillow.

Brendan's eyes widened and he held his stomach, as if he was hurt. Taillow fainted. Brendan called his Pokémon back, pride in his eyes for Taillow, he detached a Pokéball from his belt and put all his faith in it.
"Nuzleaf, I choose you." He stood straight, feeling no pain in his stomach anymore.

"Meditite, use Confusion." Said Brawly. Nuzleaf lost it's balance, but stood back up, feeling normal. Brawly smirked yet again.

Brendan tilted his head after noticing the smirk. "Nuzleaf, use Fakeout." Nuzleaf turned to Brendan, and ran towards him, tackling Brendan in the process.

"Ouch." Brendan mumbled, lying in the ground. Nuzleaf looked confused.

To Nuzleaf, Brendan and Brawly were standing together, while Meditite was on the other end of the battle arena. The confusion had switched Brendan and Meditite's position to Nuzleaf's eyes.

"Meditite, use Bide" Brawly said, confidently. "Let's get this over with."

Brendan was worried, his heart was sinking, he was confused himself, not knowing what to do was not his cup of tea. He had to come up with a plan.

"Stay calm." Whispered Red.

Brendan closed his eyes gently. He took a deep breath in and then let it out, feeling every beat of his heart. He changed to forward stance.

Nuzleaf closed it's eyes and slowly changed to forward stance as well.

Brendan took a deep breath again, so did Nuzleaf. Both let ut out at the same time. Their heartbeats synchronising.

Brendan turned to Meditite. Nuzleaf, doing the exact same thing with it's eyes still closed.

"Nuzleaf." Brendan spoke calmly. "Use Secret Power." Nuzleaf used Tri Attack.

Meditite fainted. Leaf and May cheered. Brawly called back his Pokémon, walking forward to Brendan, who had fallen to his knees, again.

"That was really impressive." Brawly commended. "Also pretty intense. Alright, as per the victory prize. I award you with a Knuckle Badge, proof that you won the Dewford Gym, along with TM08 - Bulk Up."

Brendan accepted the prize. "Bulk Up?" He asked. "How come you didn't use that move?"

"Eh, that's so third generation." Brawly made fun of the attack. "Okay, who's next?"

September 9, 2013

A man walked into a busy police department. He wore a black suit with an off-white shirt and black tie. He waved at the director of the department as he limped his way to an office.

"Sir, I can't believe you're here." The officer was surprised yet scared.

"Hm." The man placed a brown leather briefcase on the desk. "Ninety thousand. I want those two out. Now."

"Someone, let those two out, their in a disguise." The officer shouted at the top of his voice. "Their uniform is fake."

"Good job, officer." Said the man, slowly and stiffly walking his way back outside the office.

The man waited outside in his black car, wearing his sunglasses. He had long hair, combed backwards, with some of them turning white. His face was slightly wrinkled, he was atleast fifty.

He looked at the entrance of the Police Department. Two people in Team Rocket uniform walked outside and sat in the car.

"Cassidy and Butch." Said the man. "Pleased to finally meet you."

Cassidy and Butch looked at the man, shocked. "Giovanni?!" Both stared at each other.

"But, sir, how are you so- uh- old.?" Asked Cassidy, the world didn't make sense to her anymore.

Butch noticed the pocket of the man's suit's jacket. Where a red colored R logo for Team Rocket should've been, was a rainbow R logo.

"Is it Pride Month already?" Asked Butch, jokingly.

The driver of the car pointed a gun at Butch's head. "I'm not Giovanni." The man spoke calmly, his tone was rather soothing and gave them both goosebumps. "I'm a man of discipline, and you better do what I ask. Else, I have other ways to make you do it anyways."

Cassidy and Butch exchanged looks.

"What do you want from us?" Asked Cassidy, with a tone of interest.

"I want you to work against Giovanni, for me." Said the man, he looked out of the car's window and whispered to himself. "Oh, brother. You made a big, big mistake."