Another way/Changing paths

Chapter 3: Here we go...



After a rough night of tossing and turning, I found myself waking up in 'a-would-be' sweat. Though I'm not as sweaty as I felt actually I felt very cold. That's when I looked towards the head of my bed and saw what was causing the uncomfortable draft in the room.

I felt my back hurting almost as bad as my face. I decided to reach down and feel what was causing all that pain. Come to find out it was the Pokéballs that I forgot to take off from last night. Though now that I'm thinking about Pokéballs there was a reason why I'm sleeping in such discomfort.

Looking back to where Diamond was, she was sleeping soundly on my pillow. I noticed that the pillow was frozen solid, so I assumed that came from a night of sleeping on it.

'Guess I won't be using you as pillow...' I thought to myself as I adjusted myself and nodded back off to sleep.

Brandon's POV

Waking up from a very comfortable sleep, I felt a cool breeze float pass me. As I gazed down at what piece of me was exposed to the cool air, I notice where all my cover had went to. I saw Kelly who was sleeping peacefully on the other side of the bed, rolled up in most my covers.

'I wonder if her hair is really pink or is that just dye.' I thought to myself as I examined her for one more time as I began to stand up and out of my bed.

"Damn she's hot, I wonder...nah she'd probably wouldn't go for it." I said aloud to myself as took a nice long stretch.

"Mmm...go for what sweetie? She said rolling over to face me.

"Oh nothing babe, just thinking out loud...So how did you sleep?" I said trying to change the subject.

"I slept well in the bed, but better knowing I was next to you." She said then giving a cute yawn.

Her breasts were out of the covers which, I won't deny that it was a pleasant sight this early in the morning. Though I began to gain a 'stiffy' which was very painful especially after what we did last night when I was done helping my brother out.

Now that I'm thinking about Brian, I don't think I told him what father said yesterday. We need to get out of here and soon. I was told to be waiting on another call from him today, and he'll let me know where to go. Being inside the Unova Region was much different than being inside the Johto Region.

Not sure why though I guess everything here is much larger plus there are more cities here than forests. Back when my brother and I were younger we'd spend a lot of our time in the forest playing around with the local wild life and Pokémon.

Brian would actually become friends with them, while I on the other hand would try and test each of their abilities. The Pokémon were sometimes easily provoked like a Beedrill, I'd sometimes throw a rock into a tall tree. That'll normally provoke a couple of them, and then have them chase me until I ran into another Pokémon sometimes I'd get lucky and Bump into a Nidoking.

Though now that I think about it I think that's why Brian so much better at battling or just being with Pokémon than I am. Even though I like Pokémon, I never really felt a true connection with them the way my brother did no matter how long we spent out into the forest interacting with them. I'll never tell Brian but to be honest Pokémon aren't anything but a money maker to me. Occasionally I'll find their fights interesting, but I prefer human interaction.

"Hmmm what are you thinking about?" Said Kelly snapping me out of my mental high.

"Umm...Nothing much, just..." I said trailing off again.

"Just what?" She said with a devilish grin, sliding over to the edge of the bed where I stood. Using her right hand she poked my man-hood.

"Ouch! Come on now, I'm sore from last night." I turned away from her looking around for my boxers. "Anyway todays the day me and my bother have to leave this town, so I want to get ready while I have a chance to."

"Oh...umm...I see...so what is it that you and your brother do exactly?" She said uncovering herself and standing to her feet.

"Well to be honest with you we're sort of like investments."

"Investments?" She said with a curious look on her face.

"Yeah, but that's all you need to know. Now come on and get dressed and I'll take you home before I start getting packed." I said walking over to one of my tall lamps and pick up my boxers that fell near it. Not really sure how it got there.

As I slid them on me, everything receded back into place. Though it was still uncomfortable to walk around it was still better than out poking my boxers.

When I turned back to see what she was doing, she had already gotten her red dress back on. I was somewhat relieved because I didn't want to through the uncomfortable pain again. Although it was the dress that attracted me to her in the first place at the party.

Now that I think about it I think that's how hardcore man would live. Have a hardcore fight then come home and have great sex. Though I think I could do without all the fighting.

About ten minutes passed and the both of us were fully dressed. I decided to wear a white muscle shirt and black jean shorts with some white shoes. I looked over into her direction to see what she was doing; she was using my mirror to comb her hair.

"I don't think I messed up your hair that much last night." I said approaching her from behind.

"Yeah, but a girl needs to look her best ya know?"

"I guess..." I responded back to her with a shrug. "You almost ready?"

"Yep yep" She said standing up winking to me through the mirror.

"Go wait for me in the main hall I have to go get my lazy brother up, and we'll both meet you down there." I said as I made my way to my bedroom door and opened it for her.

She smiled as she started walking past me and out into the hallway. I followed behind her down the hallway, but stopping once I got in front of Brian's room. Kelly continued walking through the hall into the main hall of the house.

Once the door closed from Kelly taking her leave, I turned and faced Brian's room door. Before I start knocking on the door I felt a very cool breeze float by me. It felt weird because the entire house should be room temperature.

'Damn I wonder what that cold breeze is coming from. I know Brian doesn't have a separate a/c unit. Well I won't find any answers just sitting out here.'

Casting the thought aside I didn't bother knocking; I then instead just went ahead and opened his room door. Another cool breeze shot right pass me; the wind was so cold I instinctively grabbed my exposed shoulders and used my foot to open the rest of the way.

I then began taking my first steps inside of the very cold room; I then slowly looked around to see Brian lying on the foot of his bed. He looked very uncomfortable with a mean look on his face. If I had to sleep in such a cold place I would be as well.

That's when I saw his ice Pokémon sleeping at the head of his bed, I then sighed slowly and shook my head. Slowly closing the door back I walked over to where he was sleeping, I then clear my throat and bend over to get closer to his ear.

"WAKE UP!!!!" I yelled to the top of my lungs.

"AHHH!!!" He yelled as his eyes remained closed and then snapped opened.

There was a big shuffle shaking the entire bed. When I looked around I saw his Glaceon standing on his pillow at the head of his bed. She must have been startled as well because she was crouched down bearing her fangs and growling towards me.

"Brandon what the hell are you doing? I told you to knock before you come in here." He said slowly starting to sit up. He looked toward his Glaceon and snapped his fingers and pointed towards her.

She calmed down and sat back down on top of his pillow which was now frozen solid; as she sat down I heard a clanking noise.

"I came in here to wake your ass up. Father should be calling us pretty soon so you need to get ready, also we may have one extra person coming with us." I said smiling looking towards his room door.

"One extra person...Dammit Brandon you're kidding me right? There is no way in hell father will let us bring that chick with us." He said with an annoyed look in his face.

"What father doesn't know won't hurt him, so she's going and that's final." I said making my demands.

"Brandon I don't care what you say, I said no and 'that's final.'" He said back mocking me.

"Brian..."

"Brandon...You can't just bring some girl with us and risk losing everything we worked our asses off for." He said with a concerned tone.

I stepped back from him with a silent blank expression on my face. I knew the only way to get my point across to Brian was with a Pokémon battle. Plus since this was the last time we were going to be staying in this mansion that our father owned I didn't a problem with cutting loose in here.

As I neared the door I stopped, and then turned to face him. Using my right hand I stuck into my back pocket to retrieve one of my Pokéballs. Closing my eyes when I thought about which one I should use to counter his obvious choice of his Glaceon, I opened them back up and looked at him determination.

"Brandon you know what happened last time when you tried this..." He said as his Glaceon hopped down off of his bed and stepped in front of him.

"Yeah, but this time Brian I think something different is going to happen that I know I'm going to win." I said pointing my Pokéball to his face as I clicked the front button which caused it to expand. "Come on out Foo!" I yelled tossing the round object in the air.

In a burst of energy my Pokéball opened revealing the Pokémon that lived inside. It was a Mienfoo one of my latest Pokémon that I just caught while we were in the city. I only had him for as long as we'd been here which was about four weeks.

The thought on how I actually got him began running through my head.

(Memory)

The Mienfoo was in a pothole in the desert resort just outside the city. I was just passing by to receive a sand bath that a lot of the town's folk were talking about when I just so happened to hear something crying.

When I went to investigate it there he was just staring at the ground sobbing the day away. I tried to help him out the first time he slapped my hand away. For such a little guy he had quite the tempter on him. The pothole itself wasn't that deep, but I think it was too deep for him to get out by himself though.

After about twelve whole hours of trying to fish him out I was about ready to give up. That's when I heard something growl and I don't think it was him that time, but his stomach. So I quickly returned to town and got some berries and Poké food from the local market.

When I returned, I dangle it in front of him to see what he'll do. He looked up to me and smiled with a shining glimmer in his eyes. He immediately jumped up and kicked off the walls to reach the bag that I was holding.

I fell backwards from the sudden action of his movement, and by the time I looked backwards I saw him the food and the entire bag was gone. All that was left was the small fighting Pokémon with both of it's paws inside it's mouth. Not even the bag remained once it was done consuming everything.

"I think someone was hungry." I said smiling as I looked upon his small form.

I notice that he was he was very skinny and well under nourished. Even though I don't really like getting involved with Pokémon I couldn't on good conscious leave him out here like this. So I calmly walked over to where he was and petted him on the head. He slapped my hand away from off of him once again and turned away from me while folding his arms.

Even though he looked so worn out his pride still remained high, seeing this I decided to mess with him and see what he'll do. So I began to walk away from him only to see him following behind me I knew I had him, and ever since then we became pretty good partners over time. Even enough where I was allow to catch him as my own.

(Present)

My mind snapped back to the task at hand and that was taking my brother and his stuck up Glaceon down. Even though I may have the type advantage, I knew that his Glaceon was well seasoned in battling. There was a few times where she'd use my Pokémon's as shields against our opponents.

Although we would win in the end, mostly because she would have use them as a distraction, and would completely throw the opponent off guard. Partly from the fact that neither Brian nor myself would tell her to do so.

Personally taking that bitch down few notches whether it's her getting hurt and me losing; or me losing and still getting my way by her getting hurt will still make me feel better.

"Diamond, Ice Beam!" Brian yelled barking an order out to his Glaceon.

She quickly tuck her head inwards to the right for a second or two, before looking back up and firing a what seemed to be a lightning laser coming toward the two of us.

It completely caught me off guard as I only heard it after it was fired though it didn't move as fast as lightning it could still reach us quickly if I didn't move. Instinctively I reached down and grabbed Foo by his left arm and pulled him out of the way in time for the beam to miss him. He was in the clear but I was not, as it hit me on right leg and completely froze it.

"Ahhh!!! Shit Brian this hurts like hell." I yelled as blast of obscenities flew from my mouth.

"Well hopefully that'll cool you off with that hot head of yours, if you surrender now I'll get you out of it." He said with a cocky attitude.

"Kiss my ass!" I yelled back to him in defiance. "Foo, Force Palm!" I yelled as I slung him by his left arm towards that nuisance of a Pokémon.

The small martial arts Pokémon flew towards Diamond head first. He pulled back both his hands to his right side readying the attack for the perfect strike. She turned her head slightly to gaze at him with a blank expression on her face.

A very small white ball began to form inside of his hand. He started yelling at the top of his lungs as he neared her, unknowingly showing his inexperience. Lazily she slowly lay down on the ground no longer even paying him any mind, but then turned her gaze over to me.

He flew right over her and while never bringing his paws up to actually connect with her, he was too busy noticing that she was even paying him any mind. Once he was over her he then look back up to see that he was fly directly towards Brian bed.

I closed my eyes and waited for the loud thud that was soon to follow.

*Boom*

The loud noise flooded the room as I then took my right hand and slapped it against my forehead. He might have had her but she was to cool headed and well adapted to battle.

This would not be the first time they've fought each other, and most definitely wouldn't be the last. He had a quick temper and whenever he'd see her acting all cool and calm the way she did, would almost always tick him off. Often times Brian and I would have to separate the two of them.

Before I opened my eyes I already knew we had lost the battle, for Foo to be so young he had great potential, but he lacked focus. I probably need to spend a little more time on training all my Pokémon though. The last month I had spent here was great while I got to meet people and all, but Brian is right about one thing Pokémon are the money makers around here. Neglecting that fact will haunt me a lot more in the future if it doesn't get tended to the sooner.

"So do you surrender or you want to keep going?" Brian asked with a hint a pride already anticipating my answer as held left hand out towards Diamond.

"I give..." I said willingly still trying to hold myself up with my left leg, my right leg remained frozen, and started becoming an obstacle just to hold up on its own.

"Ugh...Dammit Brandon she better not get in our way..." He said folding his arms and giving me his most pissed off look.

I pulled out my Pokeball that Foo had belonged to and recalled him back into his ball. I began shaking my head at the look of the previous state that he was in, he was upside down face inside the metal bed frame that was now actually bent.

Once that was out of the way I brought Foo's ball to my forehead and rested to there, while falling backwards onto Brian's bedroom door. I slid down to a certain angle to prop myself up comfortably.

"Brian I want your help..." I said with a disappointed sigh.

"You should know that ice will melt away in no time." He said assuming that was the question that I asked him.

"No, that's not it...I want you to help me train my Pokémon..." I said while looking off into the corner of the room.

"Huh? What would make you say that?" He asked while taking a seat in his bed near the foot end to inspect the damage to the bed frame. "I thought you weren't that interested in Pokémon Brandon."

"Because you're right I need to focus on what's important, though I can't say I could value a Pokémon's friendship more than a humans. I would like to get to know my Pokémon better and have a better bond with them." I said with a sadder expression.

At this time I noticed that Diamond was standing on her hind-legs in front of Brian lying her head down inside his lap resting. He was petting her on top of the head smiling to her as if she was a child of his.

"Ok deal, but on once condition." He said looking in my direction.

"Yeah, and what's that little bro." I said playing it cool.

"Promise that we'll stay together..."

I looked towards him very confused I didn't really know what he had meant "Stay together". I mean we're twins obviously were bound to each other on a number of levels. I would gladly give my life for my brother if it came down to it, I loved him and I know he loved me. There is no real reason to try and find logic in his bizarre promise, because it was an easy one I know I would be able to keep.

"Promise." I said looking at him smiling.

He smiled back at me and said, "Well go get that girl and tell her the news, but remember what I said about her slowing us down."

"Yeah Yeah I know and her name is Kelly." I said turning away from him grabbing the door handle.

"And oh yeah, when you get back tell me what father called about." He said.

"I'm going to Kelly's place I'll probably be gone for an hour or two. So most likely you'll be the one talking to father." I said opening the door and waving behind me and dragged myself out of the room.

One final thought came into my mind just as I closed the door to his room and lifted my right foot as high as I could before coming down smashing the ice off of it. 'Here we go!'