An Unusual Turn of Events
Chapter 7: May the best man win!
by Kenshin

"Misty, I have one last thing I have to try," Brock said seriously. "What?" said Misty, looking up from a bridal catalog. "I'm going to challenge James to a pokemon battle," he said, turning to leave. "Ummmm...okay," she said, turning her attention back to what she had been doing.

Brock froze in place, then turned and ran over to where she was sitting at the kitchen table. "Did you just hear what I said?!" Brock asked. "Yes, Brock. You're going to challenge James to see who will be the best man. That actually sounds like it could work," said Misty, not paying too much attention to him. "You mean, you're not going to argue about how it's not right and howJames has never won a battle before?" asked Brock. "Why would I?" asked Misty, looking at him with a raised eyebrow this time. "Oh, okay," said Brock, heading out the door. Misty shook her head. 'Why would I object to Brock beating the crap out of James in a pokemon match? I mean, if he loses, he'll only feel awful about not getting to be Ash's best man....uh-oh,' she thought, beginning to panic. "Wait, Brock!"

"James, I challenge you to a pokemon battle," said Brock angrily. "Huh?" said James, "I thought you were going to help me find a tux." "Grrr...I challenge you to a battle to decide which of us will be Ash's best man!" Brock repeated. "Oh, is that so?" asked James, "I accept! I'll prove to you that I am the best man to be the best man!" (corny...) "No, I'm the best man!" "I am!" "I am!" "I am!" Misty walked up to see them arguing. 'Too late...' she thought, 'well, at least I can mediate.'

"CHOOSE YOUR POKEMON!" said Misty loudly. Brock and James both jumped. "Okay, this will be a two on two battle. Winner will be Ash's best man," Misty continued. "Right!" said both Brock and James.

"Go! Geodude!" yelled Brock. "Lickitung, go!" yelled James. "Hey, I thought that was Jessie's pokemon!" complained Brock. "Well...I'm holding them all, since she's decided to treat this whole wedding thing as a vacation."

"Pokemon Battle....begin!" yelled Misty.

(I'm changing format here to make the battle easier to follow!)

Brock: Geodude, tackle!
James: Lickitung, water gun!

Geodude launched itself at Lickitung, but was caught by a powerful bast of water, weakening it severely.

James: Lickitung, finish it off. Use your Lick!
Brock: Geodude, evade now!

Geodude tried to evade Lickitung's attack, but it was no use. He was too weak from the previous attack. Lickitung licked Geodude, who promptly fainted.

Brock: Good, Geodude, return!

Geodude was recalled into his pokeball and Brock quickly selected his next pokemon.

James: Lickitung, hit it with a tackle as soon as it comes out!
Brock: Go! Pikachu!
James: Huh? That's Ash's pokemon! No fair!
Brock: Pikachu volunteered for this job.
James: It doesn't matter...I'll still beat you!

Pikachu appeared with a *pop* and flash of red light. "Chuuuu!" "Lickitung!" Lickitung charged at Pikachu, who was still disoriented from being in a pokeball, which he wasn't used to. "Pika!" he said as he saw Lickitung bearing down on him. "Pika, pika! (What should I do Brock?)"

Brock: Pikachu! Quick Attack!

"Chuuu!" Pikachu leapt at the charging Lickitung and the rammed each other in mid-air. "Pika!" "Lick!" Both pokemon crashed to the ground, stunned. Pikachu slowly got to his feet. However, Lickitung looked like he was out cold.

James: Right, Lickitung, return! Go, Arbok!
Brock: Pikachu, Tackle!

"Pika, pi. (okay, if you say so...)" Pikachu started to sprint toward Arbok.

James: Arbok, bind!

Arbok wrapped itself around Pikachu just as his tackle was about to connect. "Pika!" "Sss...Arbok!"

James: Right! Arbok, use poison sting!
Brock: Pikachu, Thundershock!

Arbok continued its bind attack, squeezing Pikachu, and then bit him, causing him to be poisoned. Just as Arbok was striking, Pikachu shocked him. Both pokemon fell unconscious.

"What?" said Brock and James in disbelief, "A tie?" They were both speechless for a few moments. "James..." "Brock..." They looked at each other questioningly. "Go ahead said James, hanging his head. "Uhh..James, I want you to be Brock's best man. That's the first time I've seen you *almost* win a pokemon battle...I didn't know you cared this much about it." "No, Brock. You're going to be Ash's best man," sobbed James, "I have no right to. I realize that now. You're his friend, so you should do it...besides, it really didn't mean *that* much to me," he finished, sobbing. "James, how about we *both* be Ash's best man?" asked Brock. "Huh?" said James, his face lighting up. "You mean you can do that?"

Misty, who had been standing and listening to all of this performed a painfall facefall. Brock's jaw hit the ground. "James, I can't believe you didn't know that there's not a strict rule that says you can only have one best man. In fact, there have been lots of famous people who have had multiple best men," Brock said unbelievingly. "Well, I guess the twerp...I mean Ash...*is* famous," said James. "That's not quite what I meant, but...what do you say?" asked Brock, hopefully. "Sounds great! We can get matching tuxedos!" Brock suddenly looked a little frightened. "Uhhh, actually, I don't think we have to go that far..." "Well, alright...but it would look good," mused James.

"YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WEAR MATCHING TUXEDOS!!" Misty yelled at the top of her lungs. "Ahhh! Run for it!" yelled Brock. "That sounds like when Jessie gets mad....I can fell pain coming and I'm getting out of here!" James said in a panic. James and Brock began running around frantically before knocking into each other, rendering themselves unconscious.

"Great, now I've gotta drag both of you back inside..." complained Misty to nobody in particular. "Oh, I'll get James," said a voice behind her. "Yikes!" Misty yelped as she jumped. "You okay? Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," said Jessie, "I heard the whole thing and was waiting to see what happened....I'd say you handled that quite well." "Thanks," said Misty, and she meant it.

NEXT CHAPTER: TWO BEST MEN? OR TWO....?