Chapter 21

A couple more steps later, something caught his attention.

Three kids. Each had a bicycle in tow.

Bob caught a glimpse of the back of one of their hoodies.

A Houndoom.

'They must be part of that Houndoom gang,' Bob thought, walking in another direction, 'wonder who their leader is,'

He soon found himself staring at the three kids.

Probably because they were informed from that one that lost to Bob.

"So," One said, getting off her bicycle, "you must be that one that messed with my lackey,"

The girl that stood before him wore the standard for this gang, apparently, but with an orange shirt and shoes. Her hoodie was unzipped and her long, braided orange hair mixed well with the clothing.

"You must be the leader, correct?" Bob asked, keeping calm, 'must not let my guard down,'

"That's correct." She was doing the thumbs up, but sideways, with her thumb pointing at her, "The name's Miranda, and I'm not gonna leave you unscathed,"

When he heard this, Bob was ready to battle.

'Now I can't help but imagine the cool drink, great,' Though, his mind was somewhere else.

Miranda stepped forward, holding a pokéball.

'I could use Geodude or even Wooper assuming the leader has a Houndoom,' Bob thought, throwing a pokéball, 'but for some reason, I have a feeling they won't beat her even with the type advantage.'

So, he made his choice.

"Quilava!" Guts cried, ready for battle.

The leader took a moment, starting at the fire-type in front of her.

The other two members, who watched on, shivered.

"Hold on, Miranda," One spoke, "he may be the real deal,"

"Yeah," The other added, "he beat my Golbat,"

"You used your Golbat?!" She shouted, slapping her forehead, "Thomas, you idiot..."

"Good thing I wasn't there," The other said, "I would've needed to use my Hoppip,"

'Wait, Hoppip?' Bob thought, 'These are some equipped gang members,'

"Don't say that out loud, Eric," Miranda faced Bob again, "just cheer for me,"

"Go, Houndour!"

"Houndour!" The dark-type howled in vigour, locking onto Guts.

'Even she does not have a Houndoom? What is this?' Bob felt played, 'But then again, it seems strong,'

"Quil," Guts eyed Houndour. He was waiting for Bob's order, and he could jump from the anticipation.

"Guts, Leer,"

"Use Leer, Houndour!"

Both pokémon glared at each other, leaving in a stalemate.

"Guts, Ember,"

"Lava," A beam of flames travelled across the battlefield.

"Quick, Incinerate,"

Just then, another blast, bigger than the one Guts used, collided with the Ember.

And kept going, as Guts' attack was not strong enough to overpower it.

BOOM!

Bob's side of the arena exploded where Guts stood.

Although the ground was damaged, the fire-type was nowhere to be seen.

'Nice Dig,' Bob thought, 'however, that Houndour can hold its own,'

"Smokescreen,"

Out from the ground, black smoke steeped from the cracks.

"That won't work!" Miranda said, "Houndour, use Incinerate around you, don't drop your guard,"

"Dour," With a bark, the dark-type released a blast of flames.

Then, like a clock, turned around and around. This was kept up.

"Swift, but act like you missed," Bob said quietly.

The sprinkler that was Houndour kept turning but paid no attention to the ground beneath it.

Miranda noticed, though.

"Look out, Houndour!" Her voice alerted the dark-type.

It halted the flames, and immediately jumped to the left, narrowly avoiding the sprouting fire-type from the ground.

"Waste no more time," Miranda exclaimed, "Rip a piece from that Quilava before it touches the ground with Bite!"

"Hound!" A moment later, the dark-type rushed forward, keen on timing the landing of Guts.

As it reached it, Houndour pounced, jaws open wide.

Guts, however, stared back with equal fury.

This made Houndour desire Guts to be his lunch.

Too bad a star pulverised his wish.

His skin shook like an earthquake, and his mouth went shut with no meat in tow.

The dark-type skidded across the ground on his side, stopping at Miranda's feet.

Guts landed with the same old burning back, his eyes ready for more.

Sadly, he used his wishing star too soon.

Houndour had fainted.

Thomas and Eric trembled in the background.

Miranda stared at Bob.

"You're not getting anything from me," Bob said, "so you better go bother someone else,"

'Not really, but after that guy tried to rob me,' He thought, 'just have to make sure,'

Upon hearing this, Miranda laughed.

'Huh?' Bob was taken off guard by that.

"Haha! I like you already," She returned Houndour, smiling, "why would we rob you?"

Bob squinted at this, "Because one of your members said so, I believe,"

When she heard that, Miranda looked at Thomas and Eric, especially at Thomas.

With a swing, she hit him on the head.

"Why did you say you wanted to rob him?!" Miranda asked with fury, shaking him, "We don't do that!"

Bob watched in silence, 'Honestly, I don't like how women in this world can hit men for anything and get away with it, but now, seems pretty understandable,'

"I'm sorry," Thomas pleaded, "I thought gangs did that,"

"We are a biker gang," She hit him again, "and we don't do stuff like that,"

Miranda hit him again.

But Thomas hit her back in the head.

"Stop hitting me!" He said, holding his head "I get it,"

'Neat,' Bob thought, 'wait, they are a biker gang?'

"I ought to beat the-" Miranda then remembered Bob standing there, "let's do this later,"

"I apologize for my lackey here," She said, exchanging a glare with Thomas, "we don't mean to steal or cause trouble,"

"That's alright," Bob replied, "you said you were a biker gang, right?"

"Correcto," Miranda responded, "but we don't have motorbikes,"

"Or Houndooms," Eric added.

Bob nodded at this.

"Hey, Miranda, I think he is perfect for our plan," Thomas said.

"What plan?"

"Hey, I'll explain over something to eat," She replied, "follow me,"

So Bob, eager to know about this plan, followed the three members to the restaurant he walked past once.

While eating at a four-seated table at this establishment, something dawned on Bob when he bit into a meat piece from his meal.

'Wonder what pokémon they killed,' He thought, chewing it slowly, 'it is a meat-based restaurant, but whatever, this tastes so good,'

That's when Miranda began to speak.

"Have you heard of the Goldenrod City Championship?" This piqued Bob's interest.

He shook his head.

"That awesome thing is a competition with type tournaments," She explained, "so for example, if there is a fire-type tournament, you only use a fire-type pokémon, and only one,"

'Fascinating,' Bob thought, 'this is new,'

"It happens twice a year," Miranda continued, "it's like the little brother of the pokémon league, where only the locals and nobodies sign up to test their strength,"

"That's neat," Bob said, "is it part of the plan?"

"Correcto," She replied again, "I'm sighing up of course, as it is our home town, but when I fought you, I realized that you'd be a good rival if you joined,"

"Huh," Bob acknowledged this information, "is there only one tournament?"

"There are a few, each with a single type, obviously," She answered, "So, will I see you there?"

"Yeah, sure, why not?" He replied, swallowing a piece of food down, "I'll be there,"

"Greato," Miranda said, finishing her food, "that gives me time to train,"

"To train?"

Eric, who was eating silently, jumped in.

"Yeah, she never trained the last time," He said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, "Couldn't get past the first round,'

"Don't say that you idiot," Miranda warned.

"Either way," Thomas butted in, finishing his plate, "bet it won't make a difference,"

Miranda groaned.

"How the hell do you two eat so quickly?" Eric asked, attempting to finish his food.

Bob listened to Miranda and Thomas bickering.

Until Eric finally finished his food.

Bob, however, was only halfway.

"Better get going," Thomas said, getting up.

Eric followed, but their leader was talking with Bob.

"Here," She placed a few bills of money on the table, "for our meals,"

"Alright," Bob said, watching the group leave.

Although, Miranda was next to Bob, with her arm around his neck, and her face close.

"If you don't pitch up," She said, glaring at Bob, "I'll find you, and hurt you,"

Before Bob could make out a response, Miranda laughed again.

"Look at your face!" She laughed, pointing at him, "You're too good,"

She moved away, "Oh yeah, I didn't catch your name,"

"It's Bob," Bob replied.

"I like you, Bob," She said, "don't go butt out now,'

With that, she left.

'I'm like a main character with all these side quests,' Bob thought, eating his food, 'but this tournament sounds interesting. Maybe I'll check it out,'

'But now,' He chewed slowly, 'my second gym badge is my main concern,'