This is a work of fan fiction using the Pokemon universe as the setting. I do not claim ownership of the characters nor the locations that have been shown in the games, anime, manga, etc.
I thank the Pokemon Company for the universe they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.
A/N: Hello and welcome to a new story of mine, 'Pewter City Gym'. This is my first purely Pokemon story but I have written for other categories so if you like this and are also interested in Harry Potter you can find some stories for that on my profile, both purely Harry Potter and also crossovers with Pokemon.
The inspiration for this story came about due to an idea I had on what would make a cool Pokemon game. I think you'll quickly see what my idea was after reading.
Anyway I hope you enjoy it and without further ado lets begin.
The Pokémon world, a world of mystery and wonder, is vast and ever-changing. So many stories tell of the tales of young boys and girls going out on their own Pokémon journey, experiencing adventure and growing to become the people they were meant to be.
These stories are common, no two stories quite the same as each other, and this is the story of a young boy named Cameron, just ten years old and about to start his very own journey in the Pokémon world.
His home was the friendly neighbourhood of Pewter City, a somewhat small settlement situated between the legendary Indigo Plateaux to the West, Viridian Forest to the South, and Mount Moon to the East. Somewhat closed off and isolated by these great geographical features it was the best way to spend a childhood. At least that was the opinion of those who'd chosen to settle there, and Cameron, though too young to think of such things as settling down, quite agreed.
He was heading east at this moment, choosing to spend his day out of the house as he journeyed towards the somewhat mysterious Mount Moon. It's deepest depths and darkest caverns held wonder and intrigue but the surface levels, those easily accessible from Pewter City, were areas well known to him. He had visited the mountain often, preferring it over the bug infested Viridian Forest, and felt perfectly at ease in the rock tunnels and limited light of Mount Moon. Even though he himself had no Pokémon he always felt safe.
And so it was this fateful day that Cameron continued to explore, following along the familiar tunnels, looking for new areas to explore to expand his knowledge of the mysterious mountain. Today he was in luck, a steep path leading down into darkness that he'd never noticed before, and Cameron tentatively lowered himself down, careful not to throw himself recklessly into the unknown.
There was no need to be concerned. The steep slope led to a path much like the one he'd just left, although darker as it lay deeper within the mountain. It was decently wide, enough for more than one person to walk side by side, and there was no overhanging ceiling to be worried about. In fact Cameron could not see where the rock lay far above his head.
A sudden sound startled him and he froze in place. "Hello?" The sound bounced off the walls, repeating back to him from the darkness, and Cameron rolled his eyes at his own thoughtlessness. "Echo."
Pushing past his amusement at hearing dozens of little Cameron voices parroting back to him Cameron began his journey through this new tunnel, looking around in interest for any more hidden passageways he could explore. He was being led in a direction he had rarely visited and he felt a spark of excitement wondering as to what he would find at the end of it.
Something fell into his path, bouncing in front of him and into the wall, whirring on the ground before it came to a stop. Cameron approached it curiously, picking it up and lifting it close so he could get a better look.
It was a Pokéball.
"Hello!" A voice called and Cameron jumped. "Hello! Is someone down there?" For a moment Cameron looked around wildly, up and down the tunnel as he searched for where that voice had come from, before he came to his senses and looked up.
There was a figure standing high above him, though Cameron couldn't make out any details, his face hidden in the gloom. The man, as Cameron could tell from his voice, was leaning over the edge of a cliff that fell down to where Cameron stood and he appeared to be looking down right at him.
"Yeah!" Cameron called back, realising that this man, whoever he was, must have been the cause for this Pokéball's fall. "I've got a Pokéball. Is it yours?" The figure shifted.
"You've got it? Thank you." The voice sounded relieved. "I was worried… so clumsy, knocked it out my hand… anyway, hang on down there, I'll come find you." The figure disappeared and Cameron was left alone, wondering how long he would be left standing in the darkness. The man clearly knew the way, but how long would it take him.
Cameron looked down at the Pokéball in his hand. Though he had no Pokémon of his own he was not ignorant of Pokémon, or even Pokémon battling, having often played with his parents' Pokémon and had even battled with some of his uncle's. Yet he couldn't help but want to open the Pokéball, just to see what was inside. Perhaps when the man reached him he'd allow him to see.
A chilly breeze swept through the tunnel and Cameron shivered. Sometimes that would happen, the tunnels could lead to strong drafts, and due to it being such a warm and sunny day outside Cameron was decked out in only a short sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts. He rubbed his arms briskly.
Just what was taking this guy so long, Cameron wondered as the brisk chill continued and he had to stomp his feet to keep him from freezing. It must have been at least ten minutes since he'd left.
And that's when Cameron heard it. A faint whispering in the air. The gentle rustle of fabric. A low moan of pain, of suffering.
Cameron turned round in alarm, looking for the source of the sound, but saw nothing. For as far as he could tell he was alone, standing halfway along the tunnel with a Pokéball in his hand, but even as he assured himself of these facts the noises seemed to grow louder. Cameron shivered for a reason other than cold, his eyes straining in the darkness as he felt something there, just beyond his range of sight, watching him with malicious intent.
"What are you?" He said, trying to sound defiant, though his voice sounded weak even to his own ears. "What do you want from me?" The whispers just grew louder, a soft, chilling laugh echoing down the tunnel, and Cameron swallowed hard.
"Stop it!" He demanded, backing away from the noise yet even as he did so seeming to be surrounded by it. "I'm warning you, stop it. I'll fight if you don't. Don't make me." He raised the Pokéball up threateningly. Who knew what Pokémon it contained but at the moment anything would do.
For a long moment it seemed that the person, or creature or being or whatever it was that was haunting him, was considering his threat. The whispers didn't stop, the wind never fully dying, but it did settle somewhat and the noises quietened. Cameron waited with bated breath.
And then, catching him completely off guard, a figure appeared before him, hovering through the air, a malicious ball of gas with two large, menacing eyes focused mere inches in front of him.
"Ah!" Cameron cried, falling back in shock, and on instinct he pressed the button of the Pokéball in his hand and it burst open.
"Geo!" A voice cried before a moment later dust whipped up in front of him, building into a tornado in which the horrifying gassy creature was consumed. There was a shrieking sound, a long wail, and the creature fled down the tunnel to safety.
As the creature disappeared the attack subsided and the tunnel settled into silence once more.
"Hey! Are you alright!" The man had found him, his heavy footsteps echoing down the tunnel, and Cameron shook himself as he realised that the danger appeared to be over.
"Yeah," Cameron muttered disorientatedly, shaking his head to clear out the cobwebs. "Yeah, I'm alright." The man hurried over to him.
"Here, let me help you up," he said and Cameron soon found himself being lifted back to his feet, stumbling slightly as his legs momentarily refused to take his weight, before he straightened up and was finally able to get a better look at the man who had helped him. His mouth fell open.
"I saw the Gastly jump out at you," the man was explaining, not seeming to notice Cameron's surprised. "Fortunately he was just trying to give you a fright."
"You," Cameron gasped. The man paused, then let out a small smile.
"You recognise me, then," he chuckled. "Let me guess, you're a Pewter City kid." Cameron nodded. "Makes sense, considering you're here. Without Pokémon, apparently. But lets get properly acquainted." The man held out his hand. "My name's Brock. Pleased to meet you." Cameron stumbled to respond.
"Cameron," he mumbled, reaching out and allowing his hand to be shaken in Brock's firm grip. It was a bit overwhelming to be standing here, after all that had just happened, and find himself face to face with none other than the Pewter City Gym Leader. Brock seemed to notice.
"So, what are you doing down here?" Brock asked conversationally, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking up and down the tunnel with interest. Cameron blinked.
"Eh, exploring," he said. "I live in Pewter City so I come here sometimes." Stupid Cameron, hadn't he just told Brock he was from Pewter City.
But Brock didn't comment.
"I understand that," he said with a smile. "I was the same myself when I was your age. I always had a fascination for rock type Pokémon and where better to be than in the place where they live. I actually just caught that Geodude a few moments ago, before I was so clumsy as to drop his Pokéball." Cameron looked over to where the Geodude was sitting, the rock-like Pokémon that had rescued him sitting patiently as it watched the two of them converse, almost as though it could understand what they were saying.
"So is that what you're doing just now?" Cameron asked, turning back to Brock with interest. He was quickly getting over his shock. "Exploring?"
Brock had an odd smile on his face. "Sort of," he said. "I know most of these tunnels off by heart by now but there was something I found recently that really caught my interest."
"What? What is it?" Brock smiled.
"Why don't you come see for yourself," he suggested and he began to move past Cameron and down the tunnel. "I promise, you won't be disappointed." Cameron hesitated, only for a moment, before he followed after the Gym Leader.
The journey was a long one, or at least it felt long. Cameron, following along after Brock, was so hyped up for what the Gym Leader had to show him that every second seemed to drag by. They walked down in silence, nothing but the sound of their footsteps and the clunk of Geodude's rocky form on the ground for company.
"So, tell me a bit about yourself," Brock said by way of making conversation, glancing over to the younger boy. Cameron jumped.
"Eh, okay, well, I'm ten years old," Cameron said, thinking what would be interesting to the older boy. "Eh, I live with my parents, just south of the Pokémon Centre…"
"Have you ever wanted to go on a journey?" Brock asked. "Most kids your age can't wait to go travelling and explore the region." That got Cameron going.
"Oh yeah, I want to see everything," he said enthusiastically. "I want to challenge all the Gyms, beat all the Gym Leaders and then beat the Elite Four and Champion too. I've been practicing with some of my uncle's Pokémon and I think I could be a really good batter, once I have Pokémon of my own. I'm just waiting to hear back from Professor Oak."
"You've applied to Professor Oak?" Brock asked. He sounded surprised.
"Yes," Cameron nodded. "Why? Is there a problem?"
"Oh. Oh, no," Brock said hastily. "I was just thinking that it might be hard to get in to the programme. Professor Oak never gives away more than a few Pokémon at a time and I know a lot of trainers want to start out with a Charmander, Squirtle or Bulbasaur. Particularly since they are so rare in the wild."
"So what are you saying?" Cameron asked. "You think I won't get in?"
"I think there's a chance," Brock admitted. "I'm not trying to put you off," he said hurriedly. "Receiving a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak would be wonderful. But you should know that there's a good chance you might not get in. You should certainly think of a backup plan."
"Right," Cameron said, understanding. Brock made some valid points. Cameron knew he wanted to get a Pokémon from Professor Oak but if he wanted that then it was certain that other kids his age would want it too. Maybe if he didn't get in he could ask his Uncle Cedric to catch him a Pokémon. Maybe a Nidoran, he liked practicing with Uncle Cedric's Nidorino.
"Ah, here we are," Brock said suddenly and Cameron looked up, surprised to find them standing in the entrance to some sort of cave. It wasn't particularly large, the tunnel had become progressively narrower, Brock having to crouch slightly to avoid banging his head on the ceiling, but despite this there was already someone there, kneeling down by the rock face.
"Hey Brock," the boy said, not much older than Cameron. He looked, in Cameron's opinion, much like a younger version of the Gym Leader.
"Hey Forrest, sorry I took so long," Brock replied easily, slipping in beside him and eyeing up the rock wall that the boy appeared to be investigating. "So, how's it going? Make much progress?"
"A little," the boy replied, and in his hands he held up a small hammer and chisel. "Didn't want to try anything too risky before you got here." He glanced at Cameron. "Who's this?" Brock looked up to.
"Someone I bumped into on the way here," Brock said with a smile. "Cameron, I'd like you to meet my brother Forrest. Forrest, this is Cameron."
"Alright," Forrest said warily, eyeing up the new boy with some suspicion. Cameron just waved awkwardly back.
"Cameron here helped me out with my new Geodude," Brock explained, gesturing to where the rock Pokémon was sitting patiently by Cameron's side. Forrest groaned.
"You've caught another Geodude," he complained. "Brock." Brock grinned sheepishly.
"My bad," he admitted, though not looking remotely sorry. "Anyway, after Cameron helped me out I thought it only fair to bring him along and show him what we're doing here. He could help solve our conundrum."
"Ok, I guess," Forrest said. Brock turned to Cameron.
"We've been exploring these tunnels for a long time, Forrest and I," he explained. "And just yesterday we came across something extraordinary. Come closer." Cameron hesitantly moved forward, the space quite small and cramped as he moved to where Forrest and Brock were crouching and looked at the wall they were examining.
"See this," Brock said, his voice low and excited as he traced his finger delicately over a line in the rock. "Do you know what this is?" Cameron shook his head. "Forrest, do you want to tell him?"
"It's a fossil," Forrest explained. "See that one Brock has is shaped like a shell of some sort, almost like a Magcargo or something." He then pointed to another area, this one much lower in the rock and literally right by Forrest's side. "And see this one, almost looks like a nut, really."
"I see," Cameron told him. "So what about that one?" There was a third item in the wall, although this one was not like the other two. Rather than blending in it stood out quite sharply, seeming to glow a dull orangey colour, and it appeared to be what Forrest had made most progress on, the rock around it having been hacked back.
"That's an Old Amber," Forrest told him. "Slightly different from the other two but fundamentally… Well, in the end it's really the same thing, once we are able to get them out."
"We're almost there on this one," Brock commented and he dumped his bag down out of the way, pulling out his own hammer and chisel and striking away at the rock. A few moments later he'd cleared enough of the rock that he was able to reach out and pull the Old Amber from the wall.
"Isn't it beautiful," Brock said, holding it up for the other two to see, seemingly entranced. "I've never seen one of these in person. I can't wait to get this back to the museum."
"So you aren't going to keep it?" Cameron asked. It seemed unfair really since Brock and Forrest had clearly found these themselves. Brock smiled.
"No, I'm certainly going to keep it," Brock told him. "But you see, the fossil itself is only half the story. There has been some incredible work, pioneered over on Cinnabar Island, where they are able to use these fossils to recreate the Pokémon that left it behind, Pokémon that would otherwise be extinct in our world."
"Wait, what?" Cameron gasped. "They can bring Pokémon back to life?"
"If they've been fossilised," Brock told him. "In particular this Old Amber will become an Aerodactyl once the boys at the museum are through with it, an incredibly powerful Pokémon. A rock type, too, as it happens. Perfect for a Pewter City Gym Leader."
"And a lot tougher to train than the other fossil Pokémon," Forrest input. "Aerodactyl don't have evolutionary stages so they're strong from the moment they're brought back. The other two won't be so tough, much easier for training."
"Which is why I'm so glad to have run into you, Cameron," Brock said with a smile. "Since there were three fossils and only two of us we had a bit of a conundrum. But now with three people here…" Cameron gaped.
"You want me to have one?" He asked, unable to believe it.
"If you want," Brock told him, smiling. "I'm not going to force it on you but I thought a young, enthusiastic, trainer-to-be such as yourself might be the perfect candidate to raise one of these Pokémon."
"You mean it?" Cameron gasped. Brock nodded. Cameron turned to Forrest.
"You might as well," he said uncaringly. "If you don't take it we'll just have it lying around somewhere. Probably better it has a trainer." Cameron beamed.
"Well, we should get to work," Brock said, rolling up his sleeves in preparation. "I'm afraid it's a bit cramped for three people so you'll have to stand back. Forrest, why don't you work on the Dome Fossil and I'll work on the Helix. Remember, slow and steady wins the race."
And so the two boys went to work, the cave falling into silence other than the soft chink of metal on stone as Brock and Forrest worked diligently on freeing the remaining fossils. With nothing to do Cameron sat back against the wall, watching the two brothers from behind as they obscured his view of the fossils, Brock's Geodude settling down next to him.
Some time later the first of the fossils came free.
"Here we go," said Brock triumphantly, gently prying the fossil away from the wall and lowering it to the ground, reaching into his pocket for a small brush to sweep away the dust. "One Helix Fossil retrieved. This is the one you wanted, isn't it Forrest?" Forrest nodded, lying on his stomach to work on freeing the other fossil from its awkward height. "Need any help?"
"I've got it," Forrest replied, a slight note of annoyance in his tone at the idea that he wasn't capable of retrieving the fossil on his own. "Just put the fossil in your bag, I'll get it later."
Brock did as his brother asked, delicately slipping the Helix Fossil in with his Old Amber, before he sat back, glancing over at his brother before settling down at the wall to wait.
Cameron, slightly bored now, started conversation.
"Did you get a starter from Professor Oak, Brock?" He asked. The older boy looked up.
"Ah, no, definitely not," Brock told him, smiling slightly. "No I was raised with the expectation that I'd take over my father one day at the Gym. On my 10th birthday I woke up to find an Onix looking in my bedroom window, a bow tied around his neck. We've been partners ever since, though now of course he's evolved."
"And what about you, Forrest?" Cameron asked politely. Forrest, still working, did not appear to hear him.
"Forrest is like me, raised to be a rock type trainer," Brock said with a smile. "He helps out at the Gym, I think dad's hoping that he'll succeed me one day. Anyway, his starter was a Rhyhorn, a Rhydon now, though of course he's got some other rock types. A Graveler for one." Brock nodded his head in Geodude's direction. "And now he's going to get an Omanyte. Pretty exciting."
Cameron agreed. In fact he was pretty excited too, realising that he wasn't far away from getting his very own first Pokémon, and he was about to ask Brock what it would be before he was interrupted by a muffled curse. The fossil Forrest was working on fell from the wall, clattering into the ground, and Brock was up in a second.
"Forrest," he said quickly, moving forward to where the younger boy was desperately looking over the fossil. "Here, stand back." Brock ever so carefully lifted the fossil into the air, making sure to keep it steady as he moved it into the middle of the cave, giving him space as he started dusting it down, examining it closely. After a moment he pulled back.
"Well, it seems alright," he said, letting out a sigh of relief. "I don't see any major cracks. Of course the museum boys might notice something I haven't but it should be alright."
"Sorry Brock," Forrest muttered, ducking his head. Brock's expression softened.
"It's alright," he said. "You didn't mean to, you just need more practice, and a bit more patience. That'll come, Forrest, don't worry about it." Brock straightened up, or as much as he could do in the small cave. "In the meantime we should be getting out of here. I'll put your fossil in my bag with the others, Cameron. We'll be able to head to the museum as soon as we get out of here."
Cameron was more than glad to let Brock carry the fossil, having no bag and no desire to carry the reasonably bulky item by hand all the way out, and he quite gladly stood up and allowed himself to stretch his legs as Brock led them back down the tunnel.
At his side Forrest sidled over.
"Sorry about your fossil," he mumbled under his breath, as though trying to keep his brother from hearing.
"Don't worry about it," Cameron replied. The fossil was fine, so Brock said, and it wasn't like Forrest had done any of it on purpose. Cameron doubted he'd have done any better, in fact he'd probably have accidentally snapped the fossil clean in two if it had been up to him to retrieve it.
"Hey, Brock said you worked at the Gym," he made conversation.
"Oh, yeah, I'm one of the Gym trainers," Forrest told him. "There's quite a few of us. I'm still rather low in the rankings, you know, being eleven and all, but if I keep training hard I can become stronger."
"So is that what you do, train?" Cameron asked. "I've never been to the Gym."
"You should really go visit sometime," Forrest told him earnestly. "Of course Brock's the Gym Leader but you're not allowed to just challenge him, you have to beat some Gym trainers, and the ones you face are dependant on how many gym badges you've won. I only face trainers who have two or three gym badges but we've got trainers for all levels, all rock type specialists."
"Wow, that sounds brilliant," Cameron told him. "Maybe I'll wait until I've got a few badges before I challenge the Pewter Gym, then, so we can battle against each other." Forrest grinned.
"Don't take too long, I'm getting stronger all the time," he promised. "So are you starting your journey then? You don't have any Pokémon."
"I've applied to get a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak," Cameron told him. "But Brock was telling me how there's lots of competition so I was thinking I might ask my Uncle Cedric to catch something for me if I don't get in."
"That would be unlucky, the starter Pokémon from Oak are really strong," Forrest told him. "I don't know how many times I've been beaten by a Squirtle or a Bulbasaur, they're just so good against rock and ground types." And with that they stepped out the tunnels of Mount Moon and walked into the blistering sunlight.
"Whew, forgot how bright it was," Brock commented lightly, using a hand to cover his eyes as he looked down at Pewter City, sprawled out beneath him. "Guess I should be used to that. Anyway, we should head off to the museum. Forrest, do you want to take my bag and go on ahead? It takes a bit of time for them to work their magic."
"Sure thing," Forrest agreed, accepting Brock's bag and swinging it over his shoulder. With a quick wave farewell he jogged away.
"Geo." The voice of Geodude at his feet caught Cameron's attention.
"We should put Geodude back in his Pokéball," Brock suggested, giving Cameron a meaningful look. It was with some surprise that he realised that he was still carrying Geodude's Pokéball.
"Oh, sorry," he mumbled in embarrassment, handing it over to Brock. The older boy just smiled, accepting the Pokéball and pointing it at Geodude, the rock type Pokémon disintegrating in a beam of red light.
"It will take awhile to revive the fossils," Brock commented as they started down the path back to Pewter, Forrest just visible hurrying away in the distance. "I was thinking you might like to come see the Gym. I heard you asking Forrest about it, and as Gym Leader I'd love to show you around."
Fifteen minutes later they were back in Pewter City, the rock themed town mostly empty as the blistering hot sun kept most people in the shade of their own homes, windows flung open to try and tempt in a breeze.
The Gym itself was different in the fact that it didn't appear to have any windows at all, the entire building seeming to be made of just a slab of rock.
"We have air conditioning units inside," Brock explained when Cameron made this observation. "They usually don't get much use, few people ever bring fire Pokémon to warm the place up. Heating is more of an issue, and racks up quite a lot of our expenditures as a Gym."
The entrance to the Gym, the public one where any challenger must enter, faced south down towards Viridian Forest, one of only two directions trainers travelling to Pewter City would come from. Brock, however, took Cameron round the back through the personnel entrance, a much more discrete and far less imposing doorway leading into the back offices of the Gym.
"This is where the trainers come to relax when they're not battling or training," Brock told him as they walked into what appeared to be a break room. There were a couple of boys sitting over by a counter, a fridge, sink, kettle and microwave all clearly visible, with the room otherwise furnished with tables, chairs and some rather homely looking sofas.
"Usually it's a bit busier in here," Brock said, waving over to the two boys, who waved back. "We've got a lot of outdoor space for practicing moves and whatnot so on days like this most of the trainers hang out there. And that's my office over there." He pointed to a door across the way. "And that's where we keep all the gym Pokémon that aren't being used. Trainers can only carry six Pokémon with them at a time, per league rules, so we use this space to keep any spare Pokémon. Now this is where things get interesting." Brock led Cameron to a door at the other end of the break room and ushered him inside.
What Cameron saw when he walked through the door was an enormous room, with high ceilings and far walls and a huge, empty space in the middle. From where they had entered they were standing high above, looking down on the room below, and as Brock closed the door behind them an echo spread throughout the cavernous room.
"This," Brock announced. "Is the battlefield."
"Wow," Cameron said in awe, looking down on the battlefield below. It was generally quite plain, a dirt ground with a few protruding rocks sticking up in random spots. The perfect battleground for rock Pokémon.
"This is the heart of the Pewter City Gym," Brock told him as he took the lead in descending down to floor level, a metal walkway running the length of the room and leading to a set of stairs that lowered down to ground level. "Everything that this gym is meant for centres in this room. Every challenger we receive will be forced to defeat me here and only by succeeding in this task will they be awarded the Boulder Badge and can compete at the Indigo Plateaux and take on the Elite Four and the Champion of Kanto."
Cameron was speechless, the enormous importance of this room pressing itself against him as he allowed Brock to lead him all the way down to ground level. It looked even more impressive from there, the outcroppings of rocks so much larger close up than they had been from a birds' eye view.
"Ahoy there," a cheerful voice sounded and Cameron looked up in surprise, spotting a ruddy faced middle aged man, equipped with a bushy brown beard, walking towards them.
"Ah, perfect timing," Brock said. "Cameron this is Edmund, our official guide for the Pewter City Gym. It is his job to help any trainer through the process of challenging our Gym, including assessing which trainers they should battle and directing them to our auxiliary battle fields." He turned back to Edmund. "Edmund, this is Cameron, a Pewter City native I bumped into at Mount Moon."
"Very pleased to meet you," Edmund said warmly. "Always nice to see young Pewter lads interested in Pokémon battling."
"Do you battle, sir?" Cameron asked. Edmund let out a laugh.
"Oh no, not me," he chortled. "I could never keep up with the trainers we have here. Besides, I just have my little Cleffa so I wouldn't be of much use. I'd have to go work for Whitney in Goldenrod, or Norman in Hoenn. As lovely as I'm sure they are I'd much rather spend my days back here in my hometown. Pewter, born and raised."
"Edmund has been working with the Gym for as long as anyone can remember," Brock said. "I think he might actually have worked here before my father became Gym Leader."
"Two weeks before, and don't let him forget it," Edmund said cheerfully, wagging a finger. "I've still got seniority, even if I may be losing a few hairs because of it." He patted his head in amusement, evidently obtaining a bit of a bald spot. Cameron already found himself liking the man.
"As long as Caroline doesn't mind I don't think you've got anything to worry about," Brock said with a smile, receiving a rueful grin in return. "Anyway, I was just going to show Cameron our auxiliary battle fields. Is there anyone using them at the moment?" Edmund nodded.
"You're in luck," he said seriously. "Don and Damien are in there right now. Settling a bet, I think they said."
"Thank you," Brock told him and he started to lead Cameron away, moving towards the side of the room where a solid grey door seemed to merge with the wall around it.
"Don and Damien are some of our stronger trainers here," Brock told him as they walked. "They only take challenges from trainers with seven badges, the very toughest challengers we face. It will be some treat to see them battle each other."
The auxiliary battle fields were just on the other side of the door, the room beyond a lot more light and airy than the main battlefield they'd just left. The room was just as large, larger even, with four separate battlefields drawn into the ground, these battlefields almost completely bare. It was very clear that these battlefields were far less important than Brock's.
Don and Damien were two older boys, both with dark hair but seeming to wear it very differently. They were standing by one of the far off battlefields, mid battle as two terrifyingly powerful Pokémon stood before them; a Solrock on one side, an Aggron on the other.
It was some time later that found Cameron and Brock back out in the bright sunlight of the glorious summer day, having left the Gym far behind them at the conclusion of Don and Damien's battle, the former coming out victorious, his Aggron immense.
Cameron could not stop talking about it.
"That was incredible, I don't think I've ever seen a battle like that," he gushed. "I mean, I've only seen my parents and uncle battle but still, that Aggron. Incredible."
"I'm glad you enjoyed the display," Brock said with a chuckle, looking highly amused by Cameron's exuberance. "Although I think you may have surprised my trainers a bit back there." Cameron blushed. His response to the end of the battle had been rather loud and not entirely appropriate.
"Don't worry, they understand," Brock assured him, seeing his expression. "Even Damien will come round after he gets over his loss. That's the thing about trainers, they care so much about battling. For some of these kids it is literally everything. And here we are."
They had just arrived at the entrance to the Pewter City museum, the building familiar to Cameron though not one he'd ever really visited outside of class trips. Had he known that they could resurrect Pokémon there he'd have been much more interested.
Upon walking inside they were met with Forrest, lounging in a chair by the entrance.
"Forrest," Brock called, catching his attention. "Any news?" Forrest jumped up.
"Jack said we should come through as soon as you get here," he said, his voice anxious. "They're ready to do it." Much like Forrest Cameron could feel the buzz of excitement at the prospect.
"Then we shouldn't waste time," Brock said and he led them forward, smiling to the receptionist as she opened a security locked door for them and let them walk inside.
On the other side of the door appeared to be some sort of laboratory. There were computers everywhere, the whole place white and sterile, with several large, test-tube like constructs set against the wall. There were two people in the room, ruining the aesthetic slightly by not wearing the stereotypical lab coats, instead dressed in regular shirts and blazers, typing away at the computers. As they walked in one of the men stood up.
"Brock, you're here," he said gratefully, running a hand through his thinning brown hair.
"Hi Jack, how are you?" Brock greeted him warmly. Jack gave a wan smile.
"Exhausted," he admitted. "Don't be fooled by their cuteness, babies are a nightmare. Seriously, believe me on this, you'll thank me later." Jack then let out another, more heartfelt smile. "On the other hand I've never been happier. Now, the fossils."
"Yes, the fossils," Brock repeated, following as Jack walked him over to a complicated computer system, gesturing Cameron and Forrest after him. "Forrest said they were ready."
"Omanyte and Kabuto," Jack said. "I'm sure you realise that Aerodactyl take longer, and shouldn't be fully revived unless the area is completely secure."
"I remember your warnings," Brock agreed, though not sounding particularly cheerful.
"Good, then we're all on the same page," Jack said in relief. "Now, as for Omanyte and Kabuto, we're ready to revive them. Just give me the word and with a flick of a button…" he clicked his fingers.
"Good," Brock said with a smile. "Then lets do it." He looked over to the test-tube like containers. "Why don't we start with Omanyte."
"Can do. One Omanyte, coming up." And Jack tapped a few words into the computer and with a decisive jab hit enter.
Immediately the room was filled with a loud hissing noise, the sound of an airlock being released, and everyone's attention was drawn to the test-tube containers, one of them emitting streams of white smoke, spreading out across the room. A light seemed to shine from within the test-tube, a warm glow that displayed a silhouette briefly before the test-tube split in half, the two components spreading outwards, revealing the fossil Pokémon sat on a plinth.
"And there you go. One Omanyte," Jack said proudly, looking over at the Pokémon as the smoke started to clear. "Now you just need to put it in a Pokéball."
"Forrest," Brock said. "You ready?" Forrest tore his eyes away from the shelled Pokémon, looking up at his brother with awe in his gaze, then nodded. Pulling out a Pokéball he approached the plinth, the Omanyte looking up at him curiously as he drew closer, and it did not react at all as Forrest pressed the Pokéball to its shell and it disappeared inside.
Sudden the room was filled once more with a loud hissing sound.
"Oops," Jack said, turning to his computer in surprise. "Didn't see that coming, looks like I programmed the revivals to go one after the other. Look alive boys, here comes Kabuto."
Again smoke started to fill the room, adding to the little smoke that still remained from when Omanyte was revived, and a light glowed from a second test-tube, right next to the first, as Forrest drew back. The test-tube doors swung open.
"And here he is," Jack said with a smile. "Kabuto."
Kabuto was a tiny Pokémon, one that Cameron could have easily passed by without noticing. It was little more than a shell, covering up its many miniature legs, brown except for the two red eyes that shown from the darkness of its armour.
"Well Cameron," Brock said. "Here's your chance." And in his hand he held out a Pokéball.
Nervous, feeling himself sweating slightly, Cameron reached out to take the Pokéball from Brock's grasp, his hand shaking as he did so. He turned to Kabuto.
It was hard to tell what Kabuto was thinking, the only feature being the red eyes that stared out unwaveringly towards him. Cameron hoped it was as calm as Omanyte had been, reminding himself that Kabuto was supposed to be weak once he was first revived.
Cameron moved forwards. Suddenly the three steps it took to reach him seemed to last a lifetime and all the while Cameron watched Kabuto carefully as Kabuto stared back, unmoving. Eventually he was standing before him, close enough to reach out and touch, and tentatively Cameron reached out with the Pokéball.
Kabuto did not move as Cameron stretched out his hand and before Cameron realised it the Pokéball made contact with Kabuto's shell and he was sucked inside. The Pokéball squirmed in his hand, and Cameron worried something was going to go wrong, but then it fell still with a soft ding.
While it may not have been the way he'd expected Cameron had caught his first Pokémon. He was now, officially, a Pokémon trainer.
Several weeks later Cameron was back in the Pewter City Gym, sitting on one of the raised seats around the auxiliary battle hall and watching as two trainers duked it out, one a Gym Trainer with a Rhyhorn, the other a skinny kid who'd appeared from the depths of Viridian Forest that morning.
Cameron had been there for about ten minutes now, having silently slipped into the hall after being greeted by Edmund at the door, and he stayed quiet even as the battle finished, the skinny Viridian kid coming out with the win. He didn't move to leave when the two trainers went their separate ways, the challenger talking with Edmund as he went to heal up his Pokémon, the Gym Trainer disappearing off to the back and out of sight.
He didn't even realise when someone walked up to him, not until they sat down in the seat next to him.
"Cameron," Brock said with a smile. "What brings you here?" Cameron started.
"Oh, eh, I…" Cameron stammered. Brock just waited patiently. "I just came to see some battles. You know, that battle between Don and Dwayne was so good."
"Damien," Brock corrected.
"Yes, sorry, Damien," Cameron covered himself hurriedly. "I just really enjoyed watching their battle and wanted to see more."
"I see," Brock said. He paused. "And how is Kabuto coming along?"
"Oh, he's great," Cameron said hurriedly. Brock knew something was wrong, Cameron couldn't let him think it was that. "Yeah, we've really been getting to know each other since we met. I really think we're making progress."
"Good," Brock told him. "But it does raise the question, if that isn't the problem, then what is?" Cameron hesitated.
"I, eh, I heard back from Professor Oak," he admitted, ducking his head. "I, uh, didn't get in." There was a brief silence.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Brock told him.
"Yeah, I mean, I knew there was a good chance it would happen but, well…" Cameron shrugged. "I really wanted it, I guess, and it kind of messed me up. It's my birthday, actually, so… I wasn't quite ready for it."
There was a long pause after Cameron said this, Cameron not able to see Brock's expression with his head bowed. After a long moment he started to wonder what the Gym Leader was thinking.
"Have you decided what you're going to do now?" Brock asked. Cameron shook his head.
"I guess I'll just go out on my journey," he replied. "I've got Kabuto, and maybe Uncle Cedric will help me catch a Nidoran too. I don't know, really. I haven't really had time to think about it." Brock let out a thoughtful noise.
"Then perhaps I can make a counter suggestion," he said. Cameron looked up.
"What?"
"Well, I have an idea, if you are interested," Brock said carefully, scratching his chin as he contemplated Cameron. "If you want to go on your journey I won't stop you but if you didn't… then perhaps you would consider a place at the Gym."
Cameron blinked. "What?" He repeated. Him, working at the Gym.
"I know Forrest explained how important it is for the Gym to have trainers of all skill levels, trainers that specialise in rock type Pokémon," Brock said. "Of course that would mean you'd have to specialise but if you wanted to join us, then we'd be delighted to have you." Cameron gaped.
"Take some time to think about it," Brock advised, rising to his feet. "Talk to your parents, and your Uncle Cedric, and when you are ready to make a decision either way just let me know. My door is always open." And he walked away.
Cameron thought about it, thought about it more than he'd thought about anything in his life. To be a Gym Trainer, to actually work for Brock. It would mean he'd not be able to travel, and he did so love exploring, but at the same time how could he turn down an opportunity to learn from one of the greatest rock type trainers there was, one of the best trainers full-stop in the whole of Kanto.
He told his parents what had happened as soon as he got home, shocking them nearly as much as he'd been shocked himself. They'd been overjoyed, proud, even, that he'd been chosen to be a Gym Trainer. It took them some time to calm down enough to tell him that it was his choice, though there was no doubt what they thought he should do.
And so Cameron thought. He thought long into the night and only slept when he accidentally nodded off at two in the morning, waking up to find himself splayed out on his bed, Kabuto watching him curiously as they lay face to face.
Perhaps that was what had made up his mind. Perhaps his brain had simply been working overtime on his decision whilst he slept. But whatever it was that had decided it for him it prompted him into action, climbing out of bed still in yesterday's clothes, not bothering to change as he hurried downstairs and out the door.
When he reached the Pewter City Gym he was greeted by an exuberant Edmund.
"Morning Cameron," he said cheerfully, despite the early hour. "How are you doing?"
"Fine thanks," Cameron said hurriedly. "Sorry Edmund but I really need to speak with Brock." Edmund grew a secretive smile.
"Say no more, say no more, I'll bring you right to him."
"There's no need," a new voice spoke out from high above and Brock showed himself, standing by the far entrance of the battle chamber. "I'm already here." He hurried down the stairs rapidly, yet unhurried, and he strode towards them with a smile.
"Cameron, I trust you've had time to think this over?" Cameron nodded.
"I did," he said. "I talked to my parents about it and stayed up late and… I've made my decision." He took a deep breath. "I want to be a Gym Trainer," he said decisively. Brock's smile grew larger.
Edmund cheered.
"Excellent, excellent, the Pewter family just continues to grow," he boomed. "We're going to have so much fun. Trust me, Cameron, you're going to love it here."
"I know I don't really know much," Cameron told Brock. "I know I probably won't be so good to start off with. But I promise I'll do my best." Brock smiled.
"I know," he said. "I had no doubt." Cameron let out a grateful smile.
"Eh, okay then, when do I start?"
"How about right now," Brock suggested and he nodded his head to something behind Cameron. "Are you ready for your first battle."
Cameron whirled around. There, standing unnoticed in the doorway, having clearly just arrived, stood that skinny Viridian trainer from yesterday. Cameron swallowed.
"Eh, okay," he muttered to himself. "Okay, okay, I can do this."
"Marcus," Edmund boomed, gesturing the kid over to the group. "Perfect timing. We've just lined up your next opponent." The boy, Marcus, looked down at Cameron and Cameron knew that his nervousness was immediately visible. Marcus nodded.
"So are the rules the same?" He asked, his voice surprisingly soft. Edmund nodded.
"Both trainers will use two Pokémon, with only the challenger being able to switch in battle," Edmund confirmed. Cameron paled.
"But I only have…" he started before drawing to a halt. Just in his line of vision Brock had raised a hand and Cameron could see, resting in his palm, a Pokéball.
"This will be your second Pokémon," Brock told him, his eyes sparkling. "For now and forever. As Forrest said I have far too many Geodude for my own good, and it seems that this one was meant for you."
Cameron looked at the Pokéball in awe, unable to believe what was happening. A second Pokémon, again one he hadn't caught. He couldn't say anything, couldn't even thank Brock for his gift, even as he accepted the Pokémon and his team grew by one.
And with two Pokémon and his first battle coming up Cameron had begun his career as a Gym Trainer at the Pewter City Gym.