Another Way/Changing Paths

Chapter 16: You can't make me...


(Brian's POV)

About a week had passed before we had realized how much time had gone by. We had stayed in a hotel room things were going sort of normal for us atleast. Brandon and I kept training with each other, though I would never tell him that he has improved quite a bit. I think a nice shit talk every now and then from me to him has its subtle ways of letting him know.

As of right now I was standing in the hotel room getting my things packed for the final stretch of the trip that we had begun a short time ago.

Kelly started to act different to Brandon and me ever since we told her who we were. I didn't think it would be such a big deal personally...I guess I'll never figure that girl out. I tried to cast the thought aside, but the image of her giving us wary stares and unwanted looks still bothered me.

She would occasionally join in the training that Brandon and I did. She is a very good trainer and each of her Pokémon is a force to be reckoned with. Her Zoroark in particular is a real hassle to deal with, because of its high speeds and attack power. It had even held its own against Diamond in a one-on-one battle. Though that as far as I can commend it though, because I noticed that if the battle drags on for too long it'll start to slowing down and it's attacks won't really do anything to her opponent. Unfortunately for it, another one of Diamond specialties is fighting for a long period of time, while using powerful attacks. It's for that reason Diamond has such low defensive capabilities.

She would use her other Pokémon as well, but none of them stood out as much as the Victini. I noticed that she never used it, not once. She even act like she didn't even have the damn thing, it was beginning to drive me insane until I remembered that we were meeting father in a few days. She and this Victini problem could wait.

Father was not the kind of man you would not want to show your flaws around. He has a knack for picking them up and using them for his gain. Such a man most would consider evil and sinister, but I would look at him as strong. He was the spitting image of how a true business man was supposed to be, and I am aspiring to become just like him. I want my brother to join along with me and for the most part he's on the right path.

Brandon was walking into the room doing a final check of things before we headed out. It was pretty funny to see how he was trying to take charge of things. He actually had a checklist marking things off as he walked around the room. I seriously doubt that he had anything written down on it, but just to humor him I went along with it.

"Backpack...check, Pokéballs'...check, demon spawn bother...check, sexy girlfriend...check...” He was chuckling slightly at the stupid comments he made as he continued to walk around.

"Ha ha, well then smart ass just for that I want to see how much you learned since we've been here.”

"Aww, Brian come on man...I mean I was just playing around.” He said in a somber tone.

"Too late dammit! You dug your grave now you need lie in it!” I said triumphantly.

"What do you want me to do this time? Have Ruption fight upside down, Swipe fight blindfolded, or take Foo out for a run around a mountain somewhere?” He sounded somewhat scared or anxious; it's pretty hard to tell.

"Wow Brandon you sound scared.” Kelly said interjecting herself into the conversation. "I thought you could arise to any challenge?” Now folding her arms and giving him a cold stare.

I knew that my brother was a ticking time bomb when it came to challenging his pride. Something that I'm not too proud to admit that I have a problem stopping before things got out of hand. I digress Kelly has figured out one of our weaknesses and that was being provoked, especially by a female. It was the quickest way to get a reaction out of us.

Balling up his fist I could tell that wasn't going to sit well with him and with a sudden outburst of, "You're damn right I can!” basically sealed the deal.

"Hehe, I thought so.” I said silently sealing the zipper on my backpack and pulling it on to my back, then facing Brandon. "Today brother we're going to see how much you've learned.” I wanted him to feel the rush of a challenge approaching him, I wanted him to look it in the eyes and not back down from it, and I want him to look a problem such as this which could possibly hold our future in the face and reassure it that everything's going to be okay.

"See what I've learned?”

"Yep, today you and I are going to have a final Pokémon battle!”

Making my way over towards him I stood right in front of him smiling, I then grabbed him on both his shoulders and shook him. He made a few headache groans; I released him and chuckled a bit. Kelly gave a light snicker as well as she then slung her backpack on to herself.

She made her way over to where we were standing and said, "Yeah Brandon it'll be interesting to see how much you've grown within this week.” She winked as she made her way pass him and I, and into the hall outside the room.

Brandon had a light blush spread across his face and cut his eyes towards the opposite side of the room from where she had walked. He breathe a breath of a sigh, it was very faint, but I was able to pick up on it.

"What's wrong with you?” I asked quizzically.

"Nothing...”

"Brandon I don't need to use our special ability to tell that there something wrong with my brother. Now tell me what's wrong with you?”

"It's Kelly, this whole week she's been acting like an entirely different person. I mean we haven't even had sex this whole time we've been here.” He then turned his gaze over towards me. "I think it may have something to do with that Pokémon she has. I starting to notice a pattern, that whenever she starts acting funny I think it may have something to do with that Pokémon of hers. It's probably controlling her again...”

"To be honest Brandon...” I said interrupting him. "I could really care less.”

He made sudden gasp at the truth I just revealed towards him. "Brian, but I thought that you...” I raised my hand in his face to cut him off from speaking.

"You misunderstand what I meant by that. Brandon how long has she had that Pokémon?” He only shrugged at the comment. "Exactly, only she and God know. I'm more than sure she is well aware what that thing is capable of and what she's gotten herself into.” Taking a few step away from him I folded my arms and continued, "She's neither a child nor we her parents, if she truly is being possess by Victini and it's happened on more than one occasion. If she wants to continue down that road of, 'Victory by any means' I say let her.”

"Well, Brian if you truly knew what love was between a man and a woman was. Then you'd know I won't let her lose herself to that thing!” He exclaimed loudly as he spun around and walked away from me.

Shaking my head I looked over towards his bed and grabbed his backpack and his Pokéball belt and picked both of them up. Adjusting my own back pack as I walked out of the room I looked back to see if I had left anything. Seeing how I haven't, I gave a slight smile and then turned away. Following Brandon I could see him walking down the stairs of the hotel; I hasten my pace and followed after him.

"Brandon!” I cried out to him.

"Brian, I don't want to hear it! You've been riding my ass ever since we left Castelia city, and I'm telling you now that I'm sick of it and your shit!” He retorted loudly.

Once I caught up to him, I was holding his backpack up towards him. I looked down the stairs the stairs to see that everyone in the lobby including Kelly, were now looking up at the two of us.

I took a deep breath and push his bag and belt into his chest roughly with enough force to make him stumble, and walked right past him. I didn't want to cause a scene right here in front of everyone. I mean it took everything I had to not hit him in his mouth right there. Though I told myself that I would never hit my brother with my fist, out of anger that is, but this time he was really pushing it. And once we're out of this hotel and town I'm going to have a few words with him and he won't like them.

Walking down towards the counter where the check-out clerk was, I readied my credit card so I wouldn't have to wait on her say so. There was nobody in line where the woman behind the desk was so I proceed to her. Placing the card on the desk roughly I said, "I'm ready to check out.”

"Yes sir, may I have your key card please?” She had a refine beautiful voice, but I was in no mood to even think about it.

Pulling out the card from my back pocket I laid it down on the desk. I closed my eyes for a split second and involuntarily appeared in a dark room I could stare as hard as I wanted, but couldn't see the slightest glimmer of light. After a moment of looking around, I could see two Kids running around inside a garden playing with each other happily. That's when I notice that it was my Brandon and I; he was remembering the way things were when we were kids. Now I see that I was in the mind of my brother.

All I could feel was anxiety and pain, for a moment I was confused I didn't understand why he was feeling this. Then the thought of Kelly appeared in his mind, and how they first met during that stupid party that I almost got kill at...

Snapping my eyes open I put his thoughts out of my mind, to be honest I could care less about any of that and that's not going to change my mind about yelling at him later. Handing the woman my key card, I took a deep sigh and waited until she was done.

Once she was finished typing on her terminal, she handed a slip of paper I didn't have to look at it to tell that it was a receipt.

"Thank you for staying with us sir, please come again.” She said in a much practiced fabricated tone.

"Sure, whatever...” I replied coldly.

Walking away from her, I could feel an eerie presence coming from behind me. I ignored it and continued to make my way towards the door. It's not like something someone could just leap out and attack me in broad daylight.

Nearing the front door I could hear footsteps coming from behind me and just like the receipt before I didn't have to look to tell that it was Kelly and Brandon making their way behind me. Right now I didn't want to look at either one of them, though Kelly isn't really the one to blame here, Brandon has pissed me off to the point where everyone is a target.

We were one more town away from what is going to determine our lives and Brandon isn't taking it seriously enough...I got it! I'm not going to explain anything to him and I'm going to make him submit though what I can do best. Battling...

Before I had realized an hour had went by while were awkwardly walking with each other silently. I had mostly calm down, probably because I really haven't looked back at him and saw the face of why I'm mad. 'Now would be a good a time as any.' I thought to myself.

Suddenly stopping in the middle of the road, I stuck my right hand into my back pocket and retrieved the Pokéball that was Osha's. Tossing it gently into the air the obligatory Pokéball opening noise, then stood my recently evolved Samurott and all of her glory. The dirt road was clear of passing travelers, hell I didn't even see and passing wild Pokémon that would try and interfere.

Within the last week I've paying special attention towards her and everything she's been doing. I didn't want her to get the big head and let her new physical appearance hinder her into letting her opponents getting the upper hand. I was worried for nothing she didn't change at all, she still remained the ever-so short tempter swords master that she's always been. Her respect and loyalty for me remained the same never changing or wavering, just the way I needed her to stay.

I also gave her a new upgrade on her swords and added to very strong metal hooks on the back of them. Just like in her Dewott form she'll be able to attach them together and fight with a whole new weapon as to which to take her opponents down. Or atleast throw them off balance when expecting to deal with her in a certain style of fighting. I personally trained her in the art of the two handed weapon fighting style. I'm no expert when it comes to the style personally, but I taught her what I've learned since I started living over here.

She appeared from her ball standing on all fours, just staring behind me with a determined look in her eyes. At that time I could hear a Pokéball crack from behind me, with a slight heat wave breeze pass the area. Ruption...

Turning around to face them, I saw my brother giving me the most scowling look. This will be his second time in his life ever giving me that look; the first was when I first found diamond. Now he feels that he's gotten some training with his Pokémon and his girlfriend is a pretty good trainer now he's too good to listen to my advice. Whatever the case may be I'm going to knock away that overconfidence and bring him back down to reality. Father is a few days and one town away from us and he still stuck on what happens to Kelly.

She is a strong girl, but what she does in her life and what we have to do in ours completely different. I understand that he wants to be with her, but the destined path that we have to take and the one she has to take are completely opposite of each other. We have to run a multimillion Poké-dollar company, our mission was to come to the Unova region and learn all that we can about Pokémon from around this region. She has to prove something to herself and make a name out of herself, by doing lots of battles.

I feel that we've learn all that we've can and by we, I really mean me. Within these last two weeks I've been teaching Brandon everything I know...almost everything I know, and for his sake he better hope that's not all that he knows because this time I am going to be taking this fight very seriously.

Osha unsheathe her swords and firmly placed them within the ground, just as Ruption began to bear his fangs and let the flames on his back rise. Kelly was standing behind Brandon with a discerning look in her eyes as if she knew who was going to win. And I can tell that she was placing her bet on Brandon, but she doesn't know me that well and how I battle when I'm pissed.

My Pokémon have a sixth sense about my feelings and they know when I'm upset. This time was no different; Osha carried a determined look in her eye from the moment she came out of her ball.

Brandon mumbled something low toward Ruption, too low for me to understand from this distance.

"Osha let's start this off with a Scald!” I barked out quickly.

Osha took a deep breath and turn her head towards the sky and released a wide spray of boiling hot water into the sky. The water began to arch in the sky and started drizzling on the opposite side of the field. The water was reflecting in the sky and made a part beauty part deadly rainbow.

Ruption immediately jumped to his right to avoid the onslaught of deadly rain, but was only in mild vain simply because he was hit by some of the water. He made a hard dive for some nearby tree that was found on the side of the road. His entire back side was wet, but the burning effect wouldn't do much to him since he's a fire type.

"Ruption, Flame Wheel let's go!” He yelled quickly trying to mimic my voice in order to get better results in commanding his Pokémon.

Ruption's entire body becomes engulfed in fire that, begun to rise as high as the tree tops. Whatever water that Osha had sprayed on him was instantly vaporized. Seeing the flames flow from Ruption was normal, but what was starting to make me nervous was how he was remaining calm. He never remained this calm during the week of Training, but now I don't understand what's going on.

Ruption started making his way towards Osha carrying a very low growl that was packed with anger. He just wasn't showing it on his face as he usually did.

"Osha, scissor sword stance!”

With that command Osha grabbed on to both of her swords that were embedded in the earth. Wielding them both high in the air she quickly dropped down into a sumo stance with both her arms wrapped around each of her sides. On that command alone she knew that I want her to use Razor Shell. The water began to manifest itself around the edge of her blades.

The flames around Ruption began to intensify drastically, even though he was letting out one of his trademark battle cries. He had built atleast a three meter, burning barrier that cooked anything that got near it.

With the kind of power that thing was carrying, Osha was going to have to cut through that barrier in order to stay conscious for the fight. As the "mini-sun” approached her she stood her ground and remained calm.

My skin was crawling and tingling the closer that thing gotten to us. The pores on my face were opening up as the perspiration, started running down my face. I wasn't sure whether it was from the anxiety of waiting for the attack or the giant ball of flame, either way it needed to end.

Then the clash finally happened. I was most definitely sure that Osha would have been completely overwhelmed by Ruption immense power, but in actuality she had manage to catch him in her scissor like cleave. The water that surrounded her blades were amazingly enough holding him back, the water on the swords grew large, they had enough power to cut down a large tree. She had remained on her hind legs to hold herself up and push him back.

I could see that the ball of fire was the only thing that was preventing him from being completely cut in two. I may not have been able to see his facial expression; I could tell that he was giving his everything to push forward.

These two titans were the larges Pokémon in both of our arsenal, both of them giving it their all to win a contest of might was very exciting I'll admit. To see how much my brother has grown in the last two weeks is amazing...and though again I could never tell Brandon this...I'm so proud of him. After all the shit he'd put me through, even my father's will can't make me hate my brother.