After a hard battle, Alex managed to get his Boulder Badge and had Hiroka evolve. Mitsuki also beat Brock, but he was a bit easier. He figured out a decent strategy after witnessing Alex's match and managed to beat him fairly easily with Blossom, his Chikorita, who learned Giga Drain, and his Pikachu, who he taught Brick Break.

The two boys just finished letting their parents know they got their first badge and returned the key to their room to Nurse Joy. Afterward, they headed toward the battlefield behind the Pokemon Center for their rival battle.

"Ah, an excellent day for a rival battle!" Alex exclaimed.

"It is," Mitsuki replied.

"Ready when you are," Alex said, walking toward one side of the battlefield.

Mitsuki nodded as he stood on his side of the battle."Yes, let's, Xander."

"Alright, my first Pokemon is Hiroka!" Alex said, throwing a Pokeball as he sent out Croconaw.

"I choose you, Kiyohime!" Mitsuki called out, throwing a Pokeball, sending out Ekans.

"Kiyohime, use Poison Sting!" Mitsuki commanded.

"Dodge and use Water Gun!" Alex shouted.

Hiroka jumped around and avoided the incoming purple needles, then blasted water at Ekans, sending her back.

"You can do it, Kiyohime, a Water Gun, won't stop us," Mitsuki stated as Kiyohime slowly got back up and shook the pain off.

"Ekans!" Kiyohime cried out, ready to continue battling.

"Hiroka Bite!" Alex commanded.

"Avoid it with Dig, and then come back up and use Poison Sting!" Mitsuki commanded as Hiroka ran towards Kiyohime with his jaws ready to clamp down on her, but she dodged going underground.

"Ekans!" Kiyohime cried out as she came back up and shot purple needles at Hiroka.

"Croconaw!" Hiroka cried out as he got hit by the poison needles and winced in pain.

"Hiroka, hang in there and use Icy Wind!" Alex shouted.

Hiroka opened his mouth as he sent an ice wind towards Kiyohime, making her fall to the ground, panting.

"Kiyohime, get up, and let's finish this with Acid!" Mitsuki yelled as Kiyohime slowly got back up, and spit a ball of acid out of its mouth, and hit Hiroka.

"Hiroka, hang on and use Bite!" Alex commanded.

Hiroka shook off the pain and clamped his strong jaws onto Kiyohime's tail, making her cry out in pain.

Kiyoshi, I passed out on the ground as she could not continue battling.

"Nice job, Kiyohime. Get some rest," Mitsuki said, returning Kiyohime to her Pokeball.

"Hiroka, good job. Would you like to continue to battle the next Pokemon or rest?" Alex asked, looking at Hiroka.

Hiroka let out a loud cry, eager to continue battling.

"Alright then, I stick with Hiroka," Alex said.

"Then my next choice is Blossom!" Mitsuki called out, throwing a Pokeball forward, sending out Chikorita.

"Chikorita, so starter vs. starter, this will be a tough battle Hiroka now that she knows a new move," Alex stated as he looked over at his starter.

"That right, so prepare to listen," Mitsuki stated. "Blossom, start off with Vine whip!" He commanded.

"Dodge and Ice Punch!"

Hiroka sluggish dodged an incoming Vine Whip before charging forward with an Ice Punch.

"Blossom, stop him with Vine Whip!"

Blossom quickly caught Hiroka's fist, stopping the Ice Punch.

"Now toss him and then use Razor Leaf to finish this battle!"

"Chikorita," Blossom cried out, sending Hiroka flying.

"Hiroka!" Alex called out, seeing his starter knock to the ground before a powerful Razor Leaf knocked him out. "Hiroka, you did well. Now return and get some rest," He said, returning his starter.

"It looks like we both won one match," Mitsuki said. "Blossom, get ready for the next pokemon."

"That's right, your next Sora," Alex said, sending out Pidgey as his next Pokemon.

"So your shiny Pidgey is next," Mitsuki commented.

"That's right, and soon I will beat Blossom, making me wining by two matches," Alex stated.

"We see about that use Vine Whip!"

"Sora Gust!"

Sora flapped her wings and created a strong Gust sending Blossom vines back towards her.

"Good job, now use Wing Attack!"

"Blossom, grab her wings with Vine Whip and stop it!"

"Sora, don't let her stop and fly up!"

"Follow her with your vine. Don't let her escape!"

Sora flew up as Blossom used her vine to follow until she grabbed Sora's wings.

"Now pull her close and Giga Drain!"

"Sora try to break free with Gust

"Don't let it break free, Blossom!"

Blossom pulled Sora closer as Sora tried to flap her wings to break free but wasn't having much luck as Blossom continued to pull her closer for her to use Giga Drain.

"Come on, Sora, you can do it!"

Sora cried as she flapped her wings hard, finally breaking free from Blossom vine. Blossom was now on the ground, panting.

"Good job Sora. Now Wing Attack!"

"Blossom Vine Whip!"

Blossom got back up and grabbed Sora's wings again, and tossed her onto the ground, leaving her panting. Sora and Blossom then both collapsed from exhaustion.

"Looks like this match was a tie. Now both of us have one pokemon left," Mitsuki stated, returning Blossom.

"Correct, return Sora," Alex said, returning Sora. "Now it's your turn, Sandra!" He said, sending out his Sandshrew next.

"Let's go, Voltage!" Mitsuki said, sending out his Pikachu.

"Voltage, use Brick Break!"

"Sandra, dodge with Dig!"

Sandra dug underground, avoiding the incoming Dig.

"Voltage, listen for Sandra and dodge her!"

Voltage closed his eyes as he listened for Sandra's presence and jumped out of the way.

"Great job now, Brick Break!"

Voltage ran towards Sandra with its paw ready with a powerful Brick Break.

"Sand Attack!"

Sandra kicked sand in the air, trying to block Voltage's vision.

"Don't let that stop you, Voltage!"

"Pikachu!" Voltage cried out as he landed a hit on Sandra's face.

"Hang in there and use Swift!"

"Voltage dodge with Quick Attack!"

Sandra sent multiple lying stars at Voltage, who used Quick Attack to avoid them as best as he could and smack into Sandra, sending her flying.

"Now finish with Brick Break!" Mitsuki commanded before Sandra could get back up.

"Sandra, no!" Alex shouted as she was knocked out with Brick Break.

"Looks like I win this battle," Mitsuki stated. "Voltage return great battle," He said, returning his Pikachu.

"Yeah, your strategy were better than mine, but next battle, I will be better," Alex said, returning his Sandshrew.

"I'm looking forward to our next battle. Catch you around, take care," Mitsuki said, heading back towards the Pokemon Center to heal his Pokemon.

"Yeah, see you, buddy," Alex said, heading towards the pokemart to buy a few items before settling out of Pewter City.

~•~•~

After buying a couple of potions and berries to add to Pokemon food and getting his Pokemon healed, Alex was now heading out of Pewter City for his next destination.

"Hey Alex, wait up!" A voice called out.

Alex turned around to see Brock heading his way.

"Hey Brock, what's up?" He asked.

"I was wondering if I could join you on your journey," Brock replied.

"Really, what about the gym?"

"My brother Forrest, the referee, is taking over the gym now. I was planning to continue my journey to learn more about breeding and as a Pokemon doctor," Brock explained.

"Oh, I see, but why join me?"

"Watching you battle me was quite interesting, and I want to learn more about you," He replied. "Mitsuki was great, but he was different from you, more calm and collected. Speaking of him, where is he now?"

"Well, Mitsuki went ahead. We decided to split up after the first gym after finishing our rival battle. Also, Mitsuki liked what his father was like as a kid. Always calm and collected and state the facts. That is just how he is."

"I see, so you two have a rivalry and a strong friendship?"

"Yeah, and you can join me. I would enjoy having a new travel partner," Alex said, holding his hand towards Brock.

"Looking forward to traveling with you, Alex," Brock said, shaking Alex's hand.

Alex now sets off toward Mt. Moon with a new travel partner in Brock after saying bye to his old one in, Mitsuki, his best friend and rival.

To be Continued...

Here you go, chapter ten is completed. Alex battles Mitsuki and loses his first rival battle against him. After saying goodbye, he gets a new travel partner in Brock. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Q: What are you looking forward to seeing throughout this story and series of Alex's journey?

Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1434