Battle at Dewford

The next day.

Baimu pulled back the curtains and found the sky thick with dark clouds. The beautiful blue sea looked a little frightening.

"With weather like this... I doubt Brawly can go surfing."

He had looked up Brawly's reputation online yesterday. The reviews for Dewford Gym were interesting: nearly all five stars in autumn, winter, and spring, but not a single star in summer. Visitors strongly advised against going then.

The weather was good in summer, so Brawly went surfing every few days. Challengers had to catch him at the beach before he would return for a battle.

During the other three seasons, though, Brawly was fairly diligent. He only disappeared into his Secret Base to train.

"It's a wonder Miss Joy hasn't taught him a lesson after all these years."

Baimu wondered whether Joy, the Pokémon Inspector with a Latias, had ever visited Dewford Gym.

He arrived at Dewford Gym.

Sure enough, the doors stood wide open.

Brawly sat by the entrance, staring glumly at the cloudy sky.

Every day of summer that passed was one less day he could surf. Now the clouds had cost him another. As a devoted surfer, how could he not be upset?

But when he saw a challenger arrive, he forced himself to perk up and stood to greet him.

"Welcome to Dewford Gym. You're Baimu, right?"

"That's right."

Baimu wasn't surprised Brawly knew his name. Once he made a reservation, the gym's computer would have a record of it. The Gym Leader only had to glance at the screen.

"Then follow me."

Brawly led the way inside. "I saw you and Aggron working together yesterday. You two were pretty good. But surfing on a Pokémon is dangerous, both for you and for other people. You'd be better off using a surfboard