A vast expanse of water stretched off into the horizon in front of Brendan and his team. The trail toward Mauville extended north of Oldale following the banks of this massive inland sea. To the other side was a portion of the dense, unending forest that sprawled across southwestern Hoenn. Many a foolhardy trainer had ventured too deep into those wild forests and been lost, so Brendan treated it with appropriate caution. As long as they didn’t stray too far from the banks of the sea they would be just fine, though.
The trail, while not being an official route, was far from being rarely travelled. According to Isabella it was a favorite of trainers travelling from the eastern side of Hoenn to either Petalburg or Rustboro who did not have a flying pokemon capable of making a more direct journey and did not fancy a longer journey by boat.
After travelling for most of the day Brendan and his team stopped to make camp; it would get dark soon, and he wanted to start working on strategies and techniques for their looming first gym battle. He looked over Rogue and Fomantis, planning their options for their battle against the Mauville gym leader, an electric type trainer named Wattson.
Rogue would be at quite the disadvantage, but Brendan had faith in his friend to do his part. He planned to help Rogue learn to use protect much more efficiently. Right now using it just once would drain his friend nearly to the point of exhaustion. He also wanted to get Rogue started on learning dark-type energy in preparation for his evolution, by way of teaching him knock-off.
Fomantis on the other hand would have a bit of an advantage in resisting electric attacks, and had decent offensive options already. Brendan planned to start having him make use of the utility moves grass-types were most known for, starting with sweet-scent and sleep powder. Sweet-scent would be easy to learn, the fomantis line were known for utilizing it well. Sleep powder would be more involved, considering it being his first time using a so-called spore/powder move. Overall, Brendan thought his plans would be more than enough to earn them their first badge.
The next couple weeks blurred past in a whirlwind of training, walking, and battling. There weren’t hordes of trainers to battle like they would have encountered on some of the official routes, but they made up for quantity with quality. The trainers travelling this way, especially so early in the season were invariably veterans of at least one year. They didn’t all deign to battle the obvious rookie that was Brendan and his team, but those that did challenged him and his pokemon in ways that the masses of wild pokemon they battled never could. They won only a scant few of their battles, and only those against the trainers who had recently acquired new partners, like Isabella, but the losses were all worth it for his developing team. Battling stronger pokemon provided a benefit all its own, but the few tips and tricks the veterans gave him were worth any amount of hardship. One older man with an impressive leafeon gave him a few tips to jumpstart Fomantis’ sleep powder training. Another trainer only a few years older than him stuck around for a few days to show Brendan a few little things about wilderness travel that most trainers only picked up much later in their journey.
All in all, his team had grown considerably stronger, and tougher during their travels. Fomantis had mastered sweet-scent and grown quite proficient at sleep powder. He’d also grown quite a bit, showing a few signs of approaching evolution, his leaf-scythes lengthening and showing hints of pink.
Rogue had gone above and beyond, his use of protect being refined enough to use a couple times a battle without risk of exhaustion. He’d become used to knock-off and had even been able to refine it from a full-body tackle kind of move to being usable in just a claw. He too had grown, his shell becoming thicker and hardier, and his claws started to show signs of growing side-spikes like a crawdaunt.
Brendan looked around in awe as he walked into Mauville City. The city was a crossroads of sorts, the last stop between the forbidding deserts and volcanic region to the north, and the lush jungles to the east. To the south lay the main port of Hoenn, Slateport city. To the west was a region of idyllic woodlands sheltered from the volcanic ash of Mt. Chimney by strange wind patterns. All of them converged here in Mauville City, and the city was quite unique for it.
As much as he wanted to explore, Brendan desired to sleep in a real bed even more. Now he knew how Isabella had felt in Oldale. Therefore, he headed straight towards the Pokemon Center. After feeding his team and gorging himself on real food again, he slept for nearly a whole day, nothing could keep him from the blessed bed.
Much better rested after his long nap, Brendan assembled his team and prepared for his imminent battle. Before he left the Pokemon Center he wanted to call Professor Alden, however, to see if he’d gotten back to Rustboro alright. Brendan waited in the long line to use the video-phones, finally getting into a booth. After a moment his call connected, showing a much healthier and well-rested looking Professor Alden.
“Professor! It’s Brendan, just wanted to call and see how you’d settled back in.” Brendan cheerfully chattered.
“It’s good to see you Brendan, I was wondering how you were doing on your way to Mauville. Have you challenged the gym yet?” the Professor inquired.
“No, I uh, caught up on some sleep. So we’re just about to challenge Wattson. We really went through the wringer on the way here.” Brendan chuckled, thinking of their hard work. “I think we’re ready though.”
“Go after it with that confidence and you’ll do just fine I think.” the Professor advised. “Oh! I wanted to let you know we’ve started a study on the inner ruins you and I uncovered. We moved some of the relicanth to my lab here in Rustboro, both to study the ruins with more ease and to study the relicanth themselves.
“I took the liberty of registering one of the relicanth as yours, given your contribution to the discovery. We need it for the research right now of course, but in the future it’s yours if you’d like. From what I know of the species they aren’t very good battlers, but make phenomenal traveling pokemon.” the Professor excitedly explained.
“Wow, of course, I’d love to have it. Thanks, Professor!” Brendan replied. “I’ll let you go though, I know you’re itching to get back to your research.”
“Of course, it was good to talk to you, Brendan. Good luck on your battle. Goodbye.”
The call disconnected and Brendan walked out of the Pokemon Center, thinking about his upcoming battle. It took him a while to locate the gym; Mauville was much more developed than most cities he’d been to, comparable to Goldenrod City in Johto. Brendan calmed his nerves and walked in, greeting the receptionist.
“Hello? I’m here to register for a battle.”
“Oh? Well you’re in luck, Mr. Wattson doesn’t have many challengers this early in the season. He should be ready for you, go right on in.”
Brendan just nodded mutely and walked through, emerging in a dimly lit arena. At the other end he could see a shadowed figure on a podium. All of a sudden blinding light filled the room as a vast array of lights turned on all at once. Jovial laughter filled Brendan’s ears while he blinked tears out of his eyes. Finally, Brendan laid eyes on the gym leader, Wattson. The man was average height with kind eyes, and looked as though he enjoyed food just as much, if not more, than pokemon battles. He wore a wide grin as he pet a magnificent manectric at his side, not even acknowledging the sparks leaping from the pokemon’s fur.
“Wahaha, pardon my little trick! It’s a favorite of mine for the new challengers.” The gym leader laughed cheerfully. “Well, who are you and how many badges do you have, son? Don’t get many challengers around here till midway through the season usually, other than the local folk, and I’d recognize you if you were one of them.” he inquired.
“I’m Brendan, and this will be my first badge!” Brendan shot back, brimming with eagerness.
“Ohoho, confident are we? Well let’s hope this will be an electrifying battle then!” Wattson boomed.
“I see you’ve only two pokemon, so we’ll have a 2-on-2 then.” he mused, releasing a magnemite that levitated in place, buzzing with electricity.
In response Brendan released Rogue, who took up his position with glee, clacking his claws in anticipation. Rogue leered at the magnemite, making a low trilling sound that Brendan knew was his version of a maniacal laugh.
The referee took over at this point, calling out the league gym battle rules, ending with, “Are both trainers ready?”
Both Brendan and Wattson nodded, and the battle began.
Brendan thought about what he knew of magnemite, then called out a quick command to Rogue, “Rush in, it’s not very quick, but can strike at range with precision.”
Rogue grunted and sped towards the levitating magnemite, augmenting his speed with a small burst of aqua jet.
Wattson grinned at the sight, however, and gave a one word command. “Flash!”
Another blinding flash erupted, this time originating from the magnemite, surprising Rogue and causing his charge to go wide. He crashed heavily onto the ground of the arena, and the magnemite wasted no time following up with a thundershock that coursed through Rogue with a painful trill. As he recovered, he was forced to dodge a steady rhythm of thundershocks. Although he was up to the task, Brendan knew this stalemate would not end in their favor. He called out.
“Hit it with some water, water gun or bubblebeam!”
Rogue complied, answering the magnemite’s thundershocks with jets of water and streams of bubbles. Eventually one connected, due to magnemite’s less than stellar evasive capabilities. The stream didn’t do too much damage, but did drench the pokemon. Brendan saw his chance.
“Get in close again! Close your eyes near the end. You should be able to feel the water covering it.”
Rogue stopped his dance of evasion and started another charge. Showing a slight bit of shock, Wattson nonetheless laughed.
“Innovative! But not quite a new trick to this old man. Magnemite, Shock wave!”
Instead of countering with a flash of light like the last time, magnemite released a pulse of electricity omnidirectionally. Brendan saw this and almost panicked, before remembering one of Rogue’s newest moves. They hadn’t practiced it in the midst of a charge but he had faith in Rogue’s abilities.
“Protect, then grab it with vice-grip!” He ordered.
A thin blue-green shield came into existence in front of Rogue absorbing the shock wave. Rogue completed his charge successfully this time, colliding with the magnemite in a heavy clash, bringing both of them to the floor. He gripped onto the helpless magnemite, the steel-type pokemon’s metal exterior not quite tough enough to resist Rogue’s claws. As Rogue slowly clamped down harder, weathering the electric assault of the weakened magnemite, Wattson recalled the pokemon. He chuckled, watching as Rogue limped back to Brendan’s side of the field.
“Ohoho, well done and well trained! Taking on magnemite at a type disadvantage is no easy task. But can you keep up with the shocking speed of.. Electrike!” He bellowed as he released the pokemon. The small green and yellow pokemon growled with aggression and sparks flowed generously from its mouth. Brendan looked down at the injured Rogue inquisitively, wondering if he should keep the pokemon in. Rogue looked up and snapped his claws together in readiness. Brendan chuckled, Rogue would never respond any other way.
The referee called to begin and both pokemon shot into motion, charging towards each other. After a short melee, the electrike caught Rogue’s side with his jaws and let loose with a thunder fang that saw Rogue collapse to the ground. The electrike was not unharmed however, sporting a bloodied snout from an errant claw-swipe. Brendan recalled the water-type, thanking him lowly for his help.
He looked up at the proud electrike and released Fomantis, who appeared with a bright chirp.
“Last opponent, Rogue gave it a little wound but it’s mostly fresh. It’s fast” He informed his starter. The little grass-type nodded and flicked his eyes towards the electrike.
“Fill the area with leaves as cover for your new move.” He instructed. Fomantis trilled, summoning several different whirlwinds of leaves, disrupting the view of the circling electrike. As the electrike circled it fired several thundershocks into the whirling leaves to uncertain effect. Slowly Brendan could feel a sweet scent start to fill the room, causing a drowsy-like effect. He saw it start to affect the electric-type, who started to slow down unconsciously.
Brendan ended the stalemate with another order to Fomantis.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Let the leaves fall, rush in, double-slash.”
At his order, the whirling leaves slowly lost power and fell softly to the ground as Fomantis sped out from the center. The electrike attempted to blur out of the way, only to be stymied by a slash from Fomantis every time it changed direction.
This pattern repeated a few more times before Wattson sniffed and his eyes widened in realization. “Sweet-scent! No wonder. Haven’t seen that used in battle in years, most folks disregard it.” He praised.
The two pokemon clashed a few more times before Fomantis scored a knockout blow on the electrike.
Brendan called back Fomantis and stood there blankly for a moment. They’d won! Even though he’d been confident in his team, the feeling of victory took him by surprise. He came back to his senses as he heard Wattson’s approach.
“I knew that would be an electrifying battle hahaha, but even I never expected such a shocking display!” Wattson laughed as he held out his hand for Brendan to shake. Brendan groaned at the puns but happily shook the gym leader’s hand, still marvelling at his victory.
“Here’s the Dynamo Badge, your prize for defeating me. You battled quite well, son. You’ve got some cunning and trickery in you, and your pokemon are well-trained.” The gym leader said.
“Thanks, sir. Really, my team did most of the work, they work hard.” he responded.
“Of course, of course. Our pokemon help us to excel, but don’t disregard your input m’boy. They wouldn’t have made it without you, nor you without them.” Wattson advised him. “But enough of that, why don’t we step into my office and you can tell me why I have Gym Leader Norman’s missing son in my gym looking as if he’d spent the last month roughing it in the wilds?” Seeing the normally jovial gym-leader’s face having gone solemn, Brendan gulped.
Seated in Wattson’s office, Brendan’s posture was ramrod straight, not even touching the beverage offered to him by the gym leader. Wattson sat across from him, hands clasped on his desk, and began. “So, why don’t we start from the beginning, son. You can calm down, you aren’t in trouble, at least with me ohoho.” Wattson laughed softly as some of his former cheer leaked through. Brendan could only relax at that and gave a rueful chuckle. He couldn’t help it, the electric type gym leader just projected an air of good humor that was contagious.
“Well, sir, first of all I hadn’t realized I was reported missing. I left home a little over a month ago after receiving my trainer’s license, heading up to Oldale Town from Littleroot, and from there to here.” Brendan explained.
“Evidently without telling your father.” Wattson said, giving him a dry look. “He sent out an alert to nearby gym leader’s territories, a few days after you’d left I imagine, requesting they keep an eye out for you and to call him if you’d been found. Why wouldn’t you let your father know about leaving on your journey? In my experience it's always been a joyous thing.” Brendan’s eyes darkened a bit at this and said.
“My father never wanted me to become a pokemon trainer, I think.” When Wattson motioned for him to explain, Brendan launched into the tale of his youth.
Norman always encouraged all his pursuits, excepting anything involving pokemon. It got worse as he approached the traditional age to receive a pokemon. Brendan told the gym leader of how he waited patiently for two years after turning twelve, watching as his peers grew into strong trainers. He confessed about how he’d gotten his license in secret, and took the pokeball given to him by his grandfather out into the wilds to capture Fomantis.
Wattson listened to all this with a grave air, looking increasingly concerned. At the end of the story he spoke, “I’d never imagined such a thing. For a gym leader to be so against his son following in his footsteps is strange. While I can sympathize with the urge to keep one’s children safe, such a talented trainer as yourself should be nurtured, not squashed.” Wattson seemed fairly upset for a moment, quite a contrast to his normal nature, until a magnemite floated towards him and buzzed against his cheek seemingly in comfort.
Wattson closed his eyes for a moment and calmed, before laughing. “Ah, thank you magnemite! Never let anyone tell you that the magnemite line are unfeeling. Sure they can be a little cold at first, but once you earn their affection, you’ve got it for life; they bond quite strongly.” Brendan looked quite interested in the small pokemon, he’d always had a soft spot for the pokemon, as they were as common a sight as pidgey in his hometown of Olivine City.
“About your story, I can’t in good conscience not tell your father I’ve seen you. He’s a colleague and we’ve had an amicable relationship thus far. I’m not about to tell you to stop your journey and head home though, since you’ve taken to it so well. I will give you a few days before I call him and tell him you’re here, you can use that time to heal up and head out to wherever you’re going next.” Wattson sighed. Brendan started to express his thanks but was stopped by the gym leader.
“I have a few conditions for this. First, you’re going to take this.” At this, he handed Brendan a small device plucked from one of the many drawers filling the room. Brendan looked it over, it looked a bit like a fancy pokegear.
“That is a PokeNav, a fairly new product from Devon. It can use the same functions as the pokedex, but it’s the inbuilt video phone that I’m giving it to you for. My number is saved inside. I want you to promise to call me if you get into any trouble, it can be a dangerous world out there and I can’t have you out there with no one you’re willing to call if you need to. Also, feel free to call me whenever you’d like, I always have time to share advice, or a story or two with a promising trainer” Wattson’s voice warmed at this and he reached down to ruffle Brendan’s hair with a small smile. Brendan smiled in return, promising to call as often as he was able.
“Second, I want you to plan your travels out ahead of time. You’ve done well at this so far, but Hoenn is a vast place, and mostly wild. It can be easy to find yourself way off route, and lost to boot. I don’t want that to happen to you.” Brendan nodded at this, finding it another easy condition to satisfy.
“And lastly… I want you to never give up on your dreams, and to dream big. You have a lot of potential as a trainer, so aim as high as possible! The worst thing you can do as a trainer is to lose the inner drive to excel. I’ve seen too many trainers end up giving up after their first big loss and never recovering their will to succeed. Don’t let that happen to you, son.” Wattson implored him, an intense look in his eyes.
Brendan’s mind whirled as he thought of all the people who’d believed in him after he started his journey: Isabella, Professor Alden, his pokemon, and now Wattson. He wouldn’t let them down. Firming up his resolve, he nodded resolutely at the electric-type gym leader.
Wattson’s jovial nature returned in full force as he laughed, “That’s exactly the spirit, wahaha!”
“Now, what say we make the most of this meeting and I’ll show you some tricks about training electric pokemon. That is, if you can handle the shock?”
Brendan sighed at the return of the puns, but stood up quickly to follow Wattson. Puns aside, he wouldn’t let this opportunity get away from him.
Later that day, Brendan walked slowly through the streets of Mauville, quite satisfied with his afternoon. He’d spent the entire time with Wattson learning to care for and train electric types, from the stoic magnemite to the excitable electrike. The gym leader was a fount of useful knowledge on his chosen type, and Brendan was quite glad he’d had the foresight to take down notes. He was now quite looking forward to capturing an electric type of his own, it would complement his growing team quite nicely.
As he was just about to walk into the Pokemon Center, he heard a shout that made him start to sweat in nervousness.
“Brendan?!? Is that you?”
He turned around to see a girl about his age stomping towards him in anger. She had large bangs held up by a very familiar red bandana. He stood meekly in place as May Birch, his childhood friend and neighbor, walked up to him nearly apoplectic with anger.
“Hello, May?” he offered.
“Hello?? Hello!? That’s all you have to say after disappearing from home? You gave me and my family, not to mention your father a heart-attack! I find you here in Mauville of all places, and all you can say is hello?!?” she shrieked.
Oh no, she was beginning to build up steam. Best to cut her off before she could really get going.
“Sorry May, but we should probably do this in private, not in the street. Follow me out to the training fields?” Brendan cut into her tirade. May huffed, but did calm down, at least for the moment.
“That’s fine, but how do you have access to the fields? You have to be a pokemon trainer to use them. Oh no, did you get picked up by some hussy to be her trophy-boyfriend? I should have seen this coming.” She rambled, following Brendan out to the back side of the Pokemon Center. Brendan just rolled his eyes; it seemed as though her motor-mouth and tendency to assume ridiculous things hadn’t changed.
After they reached an unused field, Brendan stared at May, trying to figure out what to say. In typical fashion for her, however, May just said, “Well? Out with it!”
Gritting his teeth, Brendan just came out with it. “May, I don’t have a, whatever trainer girlfriend you were talking about, I can use the fields because I’m a pokemon trainer now, have been since I left a month ago.”
After he said that there was a moment of silence, before May got a strange look on her face and burst out laughing.
“Bwahaha, oh man. You really got me good. That was funny, but tell me the truth now please. We were worried about you.”
Brendan frowned and released his pokemon, with Fomantis clambering on his back and Rogue settling at his feet, both of them cautiously observing May as they could tell he was angry at her.
“I’m telling the truth May, I started my pokemon journey. That’s why I’m here; I just got done challenging Wattson, and we beat him.” He smiled serenely at this. “I’m sorry I let you and your parents worry, but you’d have tried to stop me if I told you my plan.”
He’d hoped that would be enough, but as he saw May about to blow up he knew he’d hoped in vain.
“You.. You. Nononono. You can’t be a pokemon trainer, when could you have taken the license exam? My father invigilates all the ones given in Littleroot.” May questioned.
“I snuck away when we visited Petalburg once, and they mailed the result and license to me.” He confessed. May seemed dumbstruck at this, before returning to anger.
“And you never thought to tell anyone about this? I know you were angry about Uncle Norman not letting you be a trainer, but surely he’s got a good reason. He’s a gym leader, maybe he can just tell you’re not cut out for it and wanted to keep you safe! You should stop all this and go home. I’m sure Uncle Norman will let you keep your pokemon.” She lashed out.
Brendan could feel himself growing angry, but pulled it back behind a screen of serene calmness. He spoke quietly. “Do you hear yourself? There’s no way to tell if a person will be a good trainer or not before they try. And besides, I’ve been doing just fine. I don’t need your protection, or my father’s. Do you know what it feels like to see your best friend go on her journey, becoming an amazing trainer, while all you can do is sit at home and wish to do the same?” He didn’t stop there, determined to air out his full grievances. “I would never begrudge you your journey, I cheered you on at the beginning. I supported you all along. When you participated in the Ever Grande Conference I was there to cheer for you, but you forgot me, relegated me to ‘someone who can’t protect themselves’ and just left me behind. Now you want me to just give it all up? Give up my dreams? Not on your life.” He stopped there, eyeing the blank-faced May.
“Are you done? If so, then all I need to do is bring you home. It’s for your own good.” May snapped, releasing her starter, an impressive Sceptile. Brendan knew from watching her in the last conference how powerful it was. Both Fomantis and Rogue took up defensive positions in front of him.
“What good are your pokemon if they can’t protect you? There are way more powerful pokemon than Sceptile out there.” She said stonily, as Sceptile advanced towards him, shrugging off the water guns and razor leaves thrown its way by his team. Brendan’s eyes widened and he recalled his team immediately as they were struck by a leaf blade from the sceptile. May smiled happily as they closed the distance on him, “See, just let me take you home and you’ll be safe there Brendan. Maybe you can work with my dad if you still want to do something with pokemon.” She soothed. Brendan just said nothing, sighing in defeat.
At that moment however, sceptile grabbed May and pulled her backward, evading a giant lance of lightning that pierced the ground nearby. Brendan looked up to Wattson approaching, stone-faced, followed by his massive manectric.
May frowned, but saluted. “Gym-leader Wattson, good to see you. I was just about to return Brendan here home. He’s Uncle Norman’s son.” She said confidently, evidently thinking this information would solve whatever problem Wattson had with her.
Wattson merely harrumphed, a strange sound coming from the normally kindly man. “I wonder about that, as I received a message a few moments ago from Nurse Joy about a veteran trainer attacking a rookie without an official challenge. Not only that, but when I get here, I see you threatening young Brendan with your pokemon whilst his are unconscious.” Wattson stated, his face growing more severe with every word.
May looked stunned at the dressing down from the gym-leader. Quickly rallying, she replied, “I apologize if it came across that way, but Uncle Norman really is worried about him, he shouldn’t be out like this. He gave me leave to find him and bring him home.” She stuck to her words.
“I don’t believe Leader Norman has any legal means to empower you to ignore the law, which you have twice thus far. One, attacking a trainer without confirming a challenge, and two, attempting to return young Brendan home against his will. He is a trainer now, holding all the rights and obligations therein, including the right to go where he pleases.” Wattson rebuked, hands clasped behind his back as he smiled serenely at the slowly angering May.
“But, but! You, that’s not.. I wouldn’t.. That’s not right!” She stammered.
“You’re correct, dear. Most unrighteous. I’d imagine you didn’t do it on purpose, however, so I won’t have you charged and your training license suspended. But, I will have you stay here and help me around the gym for a few days I believe. Why don’t you head on over that way and give me and young Brendan a moment to chat, hmm?” Wattson elegantly led the conversation. May looked aghast, and after a moment, meekly exited the grounds, her earlier bluster nowhere to be seen. Brendan watched her go, dumbfounded. He looked up at his salvation and thanked him. “Thanks so much, sir. I… I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t shown up.” Wattson snorted, “Something desperate I’m sure. But, she did act out of line. Normally a trainer of her stature and behavior would get a slap on the wrist from this, but it is not unknown for what I threatened her with to happen. This is for her own good as much as yours. Perhaps I can get to the bottom of this with some interaction with her. I’m afraid this will make it back to Norman a bit quicker than I’d have done myself though.” Wattson explained.
“I knew I’d have to deal with her at some point, didn’t think it’d be this soon though. I really appreciate your kindness, sir.” Brendan said.
“Hahaha, enough of that sir nonsense, m’boy. Just call me Wattson. And everyone needs a little help before they can spread their wings, son. I just happened to be here at the right time to be the one to help you. I should be on my way though, I don’t want to leave that lass too long on her own at my gym. Don’t linger too long here, best leave tomorrow probably. And good luck, m’boy.” Wattson waved jovially as he rode Manectric back towards his gym.
Brendan watched him go with a bit of melancholy. He’d not been around someone who believed in him seemingly so wholeheartedly since the last time he’d seen his grandfather, and while he loved Grandfather Pryce, the man was just as cold as the mountains he called home, not much one for overt affection. After a moment of contemplation, he headed back into the Pokemon Center to treat his team. He’d be ready to leave tomorrow, heading north, towards Mt. Chimney and Lavaridge Town, where his next gym battle lay in waiting.