Advanced Relativity

Chapter One – Terminus

"Hey Dawn! No need to worry!"

Ash leaned over the railing at the stern of the ship, waving goodbye to Dawn and Piplup. Pikachu sat atop his shoulder, and Brock stood at his side, both doing the same. As the separation between the ship and the dock grew ever greater, Dawn and Piplup faded into the distance. Along with them, so did the continent of Sinnoh. The journey was over.

The cool sea breeze tossed about Ash's hair. He removed his cap and ran his fingers through the mess on his head. He and Brock stood quietly, watching the waves. Neither one wanted to speak. Wedged uncomfortably between them was an unspoken certainty. Both knew the truth of the situation.

This was the end.

That night, the two lay in adjacent beds in their moonlit cabin, the pleasant air drifting in through an open window. It had been such an awkward day. No matter how many times he started over, Ash never found it any easier to leave behind his friends. This time, he was going to have to leave behind perhaps his closest friend of all – except for Pikachu, of course.

It had been a week since Brock announced that he was giving up traveling and enrolling in medical school. When they parted ways tomorrow at the crossroads in Kanto, it was going to be the last time. Brock came back after vowing to stay with Professor Ivy. He came back when he left after the journey in Johto, and he came back again in Sinnoh. This time, there would be no comeback. Why? It was because for once, Brock had a commitment in his life. He had found his calling, it seemed.

Ash preferred not to think about it, but sleep wasn't coming easily tonight. There had been too much going on recently. There was too much on his mind. He sighed.

"So you're not asleep, either, huh?" said Brock.

Ash jumped beneath the sheets. He had no idea Brock had been awake. He hadn't been that loud, had he?

"No," said Ash. He watched as Brock sat up. "What's up?"

"Both of us, apparently," Brock said, rubbing his eyes. "But I've been thinking about a lot of things."

"Me too," said Ash.

"It was a tough day," Brock said.

"Yeah, it was."

"Well, what's bugging you?"

Ash, in all honesty, wasn't interested in discussing it.

"Eh, it's nothing really."

"Yeah, sure," Brock replied, heavy on the sarcasm. "I know you better than that."

"You do," Ash said, sighing again. He hoped Brock wasn't going to pry further, and he was relieved when after a long pause, he did not.

"I have to say, this med school thing is kind of scary," Brock said. "It's going to be a big change. I know it won't be easy."

Brock's stony tone conveyed his seriousness. Out of respect, Ash said nothing. He had never had a way with words.

"I hope I'm not getting in over my head," said Brock. "Not all changes are bad, though."

Change. That was a word that deeply bothered Ash. Of course not all changes were bad, but some were, weren't they? Throughout all of Ash's journeys, there were two things that had been nearly constant – Pikachu and Brock. Pikachu had been briefly kidnapped hundreds of times, but there had only been a handful of times when he had been gone for longer than a few hours. Brock, aside from a few short absences in the Orange Islands, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, had always been there.

Starting tomorrow, that wasn't going to be the case anymore.

Ash didn't like it at all.

"Not all changes are good, either," Ash said, breaking an extended silence.

"That's true," said Brock, with a solemn nod. "But, as Dawn would always say, there's no need to worry."

Ash raised an eyebrow at Brock. This was as odd a time as ever to use Dawn's catchphrase.

"Why?" Ash asked.

"Because there's no sense in worrying about it. Nothing good can come from worrying about it. When you get home, I'm sure you'll be heading off on another adventure soon enough, and when you do, I'm sure you'll meet lots of new people and Pokémon. You always do."

Ash figured Brock was right. It had always worked that way. Every time he went home, he was out the door as quickly as he came, with a new destination in mind.

"Do you think you'll go on another journey once you get home?" Brock asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Ash shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it."

"You'll have plenty of time to figure it out. Plenty of help, too. I'm sure Professor Oak can give you some direction."

"Yeah."

Again, Ash knew that Brock was right. He knew Professor Oak would be overjoyed to give him another upgraded Pokédex and send him on his way to another far-flung land, gathering new data. It wasn't Professor Oak's help that Ash was concerned about, though. It was Brock's.

Even though he was as dense as lead, the lessons of the past several years echoed loudly in Ash's head. On several nightmarish occasions, Brock had been injured or taken ill while they were out in the wilderness. Each time, Ash and the rest of the traveling party had quickly learned just how much they depended on Brock. The last time Brock was incapacitated, the ensuing disaster prompted Ash and Dawn to learn some basic cooking and first aid skills. Prior to that? They knew nothing.

It was a simple and uncomfortable truth – Brock was the foundation which had held the group together for so many years. He didn't talk as much as the others, he wasn't as energetic or reckless, and he was rarely on the front lines of the battle. Instead, he had quietly toiled away for years, always making sure the group was fed, sheltered, healthy, and headed in the right direction.

For the first time, Ash cared.

And for the first time, there was need to worry.

"You know, I wish I could stay," said Brock.

"But I thought you wanted to become a Pokémon doctor," said Ash.

"I did," said Brock, nodding in confirmation. "But, I made that decision because I know it's time for me to settle down. I can't stay on the road forever."

Ash wondered. Could he stay on the road forever?

"How do you know that?" said Ash.

"It's just a feeling I have. It's been in the back of my mind for a while now. I've reached a time in my life when I think I would rather stay home and focus on the future than be out on the road."

Ash didn't like the sound of that at all.

"Do you think I'll ever feel that way? That I'll ever decide I'd rather stay home?"

Brock shrugged.

"I don't know. Even though we've been friends for so long, we're very different people. Your goals are better suited for a life on the road. Mine are better for staying put. I've known for a long time that I wanted to spend my life helping Pokémon. It was only during our time in Sinnoh that I finally realized how I wanted to do it."

As always, Brock had a point. It would be far easier for Brock to be a breeder – or now, a doctor – if he stayed in one place most of the time. As for being a master? That pretty much demanded a life on the road. Ash figured he was okay with that.

But then, Brock threw him a curve ball.

"It's good to hear you asking questions like this," said Brock.

"What?"

"I mean, it's good to see you doing some introspection, for a change."

Ash was terribly confused.

"Doing some intro... intro-what?"

"Introspection. Doing some deep thinking about yourself. Self-examination."

"Uh... okay?"

Ash didn't know how to respond. Why was thinking about all this stuff so important? He would rather not think about it at all.

"I figured you would be confused," said Brock.

"You've got that right," said Ash, looking every bit the part.

"This is exactly why I wish I could stay longer."

"What is?"

"You being confused about all this stuff. I can easily teach you how to build a fire, set up camp, do first aid, and all that. It's much harder to teach someone how to grow up, to be an adult. Maybe it's impossible."

Ash said nothing. He stared at Brock with his mouth open.

"Whether or not you realize it, you're almost an adult. You've grown up a lot since I first met you in Pewter City. You've matured so much these past couple of years, and that's good. I've done the best I can to help you. You're almost there."

Ash remained dumbfounded. Where had all this come from?

"That's why I wish I could stay for a while longer, to help you the rest of the way. But honestly, I think I have some more growing up to do for myself."

The room was still, save for the light ocean breeze coming through the window. Gentle waves could be heard from outside, but nothing more.

Ash tried to listen for the sound of his mind breaking, but he couldn't hear it. Brock had never said anything like this before. Why now? What was he talking about?

"There's only so much I can teach you," said Brock. "There's still a lot about growing up that I haven't figured out for myself. I think being on the road for so long is part of that, and that's one of the reasons I'm going to stay home this time. Maybe there I can figure out how to be responsible and how to have real relationships. Or maybe I won't. Who knows?"

"But you are responsible," Ash said.

"I left behind nine brothers and sisters so I could travel and have fun."

Ash stayed quiet. He couldn't argue with that point.

"And I'm supposedly a grown man, yet I've never had a girlfriend, and that's not for lack of trying."

Ash couldn't argue, but why did that matter? Why did any of this matter? Ash wasn't sure he would have survived his adventures without Brock's help. In fact, without Brock, he almost certainly would have starved. He remembered the day when Brock appeared out of nowhere to save him, and May and Max, from a group of wild Taillow. They were out of food and out of luck. Didn't that rescue count as responsibility?

And again, why did never having a girlfriend matter? Ash had never had one either, and it didn't bother him at all. Brock had always cared more about that kind of stuff, but why was it so important?

For lack of anything better to say, Ash resorted to his basic response to Brock's continual plight.

"You'll find a girl eventually, Brock. You'll be okay."

Ash was well aware of how empty those words were. Brock was, too.

"I'm not so sure," said Brock. "Everyone always tells me that I just haven't found the right one yet, but I've found hundreds, maybe thousands, and it's never worked out. But you, on the other hand..."

Ash gave Brock an inquisitive look.

"What about me?"

"As far as I know, dating has never been on your mind," said Brock. "And even so, you've had more girls interested in you than have ever been interested in me. But you weren't interested at all! Don't mind me saying that I'm a little jealous. Maybe a lot jealous."

Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait.

Ash had a weird feeling in his chest. His heart rate sped up.

Girls were interested in him?

Since when?

"What are you talking about?" said Ash.

"It's true," said Brock, nodding. "We've met a lot of girls who liked you."

"You mean... liked me?" asked Ash.

"Yes."

"Who?"

"I'm not really obliged to say," said Brock, excusing himself. "It's not my place to tell you."

Ash looked around the room, dumbstruck. Was this some kind of prank? Were there hidden cameras recording his reaction? It wasn't like he cared, because he wasn't interested, but how could this have been going on without him knowing about it?

"What?" he said, rather loudly.

"I figured you'd just shrug it off," said Brock. "I guess I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Seriously, who?"

"Again, not my place to tell you," said Brock. "It doesn't matter, anyway. None of the girls who liked you are with us anymore."

Yet another point Ash couldn't argue. It was just him, Brock, and Pikachu, and soon it would be just him and Pikachu.

"Eh, I guess you're right," said Ash.

Really, why bother naming names? It wasn't like he was interested in that dating stuff, anyway. Ash figured it was just curiosity that made him want to know. After all, this was really, really weird. How could he not be curious?

"Yeah, don't worry about it," said Brock. "You'll figure it all out, if you want to. Maybe one day I will, too."

As weird as the day had been, and especially the last five minutes of their conversation, Ash couldn't help but crack a small smile at Brock's reassurance.

Without a doubt, he would miss that the most.

"Thanks, Brock," Ash said.

"Don't mention it," Brock replied, waving him off. He let loose a great yawn. "I think that's probably enough for one evening."

Brock lay back down in his bed. Ash gazed at him for a moment, in honest admiration. He had never realized it before, Brock was his mentor – not just in Pokémon, but in life.

"I mean it," Ash said, this time more serious. "Thank you for everything."

"Hmm?"

Brock looked up at Ash.

"I mean it. You've done so much for me," Ash said. "I don't know how to thank you."

Brock smiled.

"Hearing you say that is its own reward."

Ash could finally see it. Up ahead was an all-too-familiar fork in the road, with an all-too-familiar signpost. The end was here.

The duo remained silent as they approached it. Before them, the road split in three directions, just as the sign indicated. One road led north to Pewter City. Another led south to Viridian City, and then Pallet Town. A third path, one that would go unused today, led east to Cerulean City. When Ash and Brock reached the great divide, both bowed their heads.

"Well, here it is," said Ash.

"Here it is..." repeated Brock.

There was a long silence. Pikachu sat atop Ash's shoulder, mirroring Ash and Brock's emotions. Everyone present could remember the first parting at this landmark.

"I remember the first time we were here," said Brock.

"Me too," said Ash. "I'll never forget it."

In unison, without even discussing it, both of them turned and looked down the winding path that led to Cerulean City.

"That was a long time ago," said Brock.

"Yeah."

Growing restless, Ash looked down the other paths. At this distance, none of them seemed to lead to where they were purported to go. Both the paths to Pewter and Cerulean headed ambiguously toward the mountains, and the southward path led away from them. There was nothing noteworthy about this place, except for the memories.

Ash didn't like this place very much.

He wasn't sure how long he stared down the southward path. He remembered the day he parted with Brock and Misty all too well. It was one of the first times he realized how much he needed his friends – not just for support, but for survival. Were it not for Brock's boxed lunch (with matching cutlery) and Misty's handkerchief, he wasn't sure he would have made it out of Team Rocket's trap.

Then, like a scene from a memory, Brock was handing him something. It was a boxed lunch.

"With matching cutlery," Brock said proudly.

"Thanks," Ash said, gratefully accepting it.

"The last time, just like the first time," said Brock. "The cycle completes."

Ash stared intently at Brock's final gift. It was hard to see, mostly because of all the water in his eyes.

"Did you put onions in this?" Ash asked meekly.

"Not this time," said Brock.

Ash swallowed, hard. Now was not the time for tears. He rubbed his eyes briefly, and turned to face Brock. He felt far less ashamed when he saw Brock wiping his own eyes.

The two smiled sadly at each other.

"Time to go," said Brock.

Ash swallowed again. How could such a simple phrase stir so much emotion? Why did every single word seem so much more important all of the sudden?

Why did this have to be so hard?

Perhaps, he figured, it didn't have to be.

With as much courage as Ash could muster, he proudly extended his hand to Brock.

"Pokémon Doctor Brock," he said.

Brock gladly accepted Ash's gesture.

"You can do it," Ash said, firmly shaking Brock's hand.

"Pokémon Master Ash, you can too."

Ash passed through Viridian City late in the afternoon. It was several more hours to home from there, but he didn't see any good reason to stay the night for such a short trip the next day. He was sure his mother wouldn't mind him arriving late at night. Besides, the early evening road was quite pleasantly calm.

Really, it was too calm for Ash's liking. There had always been chatter when he was with his friends. Now, it was just him and Pikachu. Pikachu was great, but it was tough to have a real conversation. They could both understand each other to a degree, but it wasn't the same as human companionship. Still, it was far better than nothing.

"Remember our first time on this road, Pikachu?"

Pikachu replied in the affirmative.

Ash wasn't sure where he intended to take the conversation from there. Just like the crossroads, he wasn't too fond of this place, either. He was nearly killed here. He released Pidgeot here. This was where he had met Misty. There were a lot of memories here. He was getting sick of memories.

"I sure remember it," Ash said. "A lot has happened since then. We've come so far. It's incredible. I wonder where we'll go next?"

Pikachu clearly had no idea. Neither did Ash.

Ash continued to ponder their future, but something on the horizon caught his eye.

"Hey, is that-"

"PiPi-kachu!"

Ash recognized that phrase, if only because he had heard Pikachu use it hundreds of times.

It meant "Team Rocket."

Far off in the distance, he could see them, walking in his direction.

"Get ready, Pikachu."

His command came not a moment too soon.

"Listen, is that a lone twerp's voice I hear?"

"It's speaking to me, loud and clear!"

"On the wind!"

"Past the stars!"

"In yo ear!"

"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!"

"A rose by any other name is just as sweet!"

"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"

"Jessie!"

"And it's James!"

"And Meowth, now dat's a name!"

"Putting the do-gooders in their place!"

"Team Rocket!"

"We're in your face!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime-mime!"

Ash, by this point, had instinctively pulled out a Pokéball in defense, and now Torterra stood next to him on the road. Just like Pikachu, Torterra had seen this routine far too many times, and growled at the advancing trio.

Despite encountering them hundreds of times, Ash was put off by their behavior today. They were simply walking toward him. There were no crazy machines. No disguises. No balloon. It was just them. And they were... waving?

"What do you want, Team Rocket?" Ash said through gritted teeth.

They continued toward him. They were... smiling?

That couldn't be good.

Could it?

"All alone today, huh?" said James. His tone was disarming. It was almost conversational.

Ash didn't answer. There was no sense in giving them the satisfaction of an answer.

"You can drop those defenses of yours!" Jessie said. "We're not interested in you today!"

"And we ain't interested in any of yo Pokémon, either! Not even Pikachu!" said Meowth. He sounded positively jovial.

Ash knew better than to believe this. Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and began charging electricity in his cheeks.

"Don't attack!" said James, holding up his hands. "We're not here to harm you!"

"Or take any of your Pokémon!" said Jessie.

"It's true!" said Meowth.

"Then what are you here for?" said Ash. "Tell me why I shouldn't send you flying!"

"We're on our way to Viridian City!" Jessie said, her voice dripping with joy.

"We got a call from da boss!" said Meowth. His eyes seemed full of stars.

"We're getting a promotion!" said James.

"What?!" said Ash.

The trio huddled together, melodramatically crying.

"After all these years of endless toil..." Jessie sobbed.

"We're finally going to get the recognition we've worked so hard for!" James swooned.

"It's our big day at last!" Meowth cheered.

Of all the absurd excuses Team Rocket had given Ash over the years, none of them were as crazy as what he was hearing now. Never, literally never, in all these years had Team Rocket succeeded at anything. They seemed to defy the laws of physics and the basic capacities of the human body on a near-daily basis, but other than that, they were worthless losers. How could they possibly get a promotion? Were the team's standards that low?

"That sounds unlikely to me," said Ash.

"It certainly does!" said James, exceedingly chipper. "But it's true! We got a phone call yesterday! From the boss himself!"

"All those times you've sent us flying are about to pay off!" said Jessie.

"We're gonna have bigger and better things to worry about den you, twoip!" said Meowth. "We've paid our dues! Now, we're gonna make it big time!"

"A pay raise!"

"All-expenses-paid vacations!"

"All da food we can eat!"

Again, the three of them huddled together, this time openly weeping.

After a few moments, James pulled himself together.

"So, this is goodbye, twerp," James said, drying his eyes.

Ash was lost for words.

"This is the end, our twerpy friend," Jessie said. Incredibly awkwardly, she patted Ash on the head.

Immediately, Ash ripped his hat off and inspected it for damage.

"Dere'll be no more Pikachu huntin'," said Meowth.

"No more awesome robots," said James.

"No more pitfall traps," said Jessie.

"Our time chasing you is through," said James. He extended a hand to Ash.

Ash looked at it warily.

James appeared sincere, almost as if he would miss the old times.

"I hope you understand if I don't shake your hand," said Ash.

James seemed hurt, but he nodded and withdrew his gesture.

"Absolutely," he said, bittersweet.

"So, dat's dat," said Meowth.

"Farewell!" they all cheered.

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime-mime!"

They all ran past Ash. He watched them until they disappeared from sight. They never turned around.

They had looked happy.

Ash wasn't sure what to make of it. He wasn't sure he ever would. For his own safety, he veered off the road for a couple of miles, just to make sure there were no traps in the road. He never found one.