"You bet! Any chance you could get us a ride to Pallet Town?"
"Sure, seeing as your friends are already on their way. Professor Oak and Gary picked them up. By the way, your mom is freaking out."
"I know."
Nurse Joy smiled. "I'll send Charizard to Professor Oak's if he's well enough."
"Thanks."
"Yes, thanks Nurse Joy, your bountiful love for all Pokémon-"
"Seriously?" I said, rolling my eyes.
"Sorry."
"That's my pal, always flirting but never getting."
"Oh, then maybe I should take back my offer." He said coldly.
"Aw come on, Brock, don't be that way!"
He grinned again. I knew he was joking.
"So, how's everything going?" He asked. We had moved outside so Charizard could get some well deserved rest. Nurse Joy told us that she'd send Charizard when he felt better and he actually had since I arrived.
"Pretty good."
"Liar."
"Alright, so I haven't had the best of luck since arriving in Kanto. And I have to face everyone in Pallet and tell them that I'm almost sixteen even though I look ten. I think those trainers noticed but didn't say anything."
"You really want to tell everyone?"
"Of course, they're my friends and…well…I hate lying to my friends…"
"You're still afraid of their reactions."
"I told Iris and Cilan. They took it well, but I don't think Dawn and May will."
"You just have to give them a bit of faith, that's all."
"What if I can't do it anymore?"
Brock shook his head. "There's no time to think about that, you CAN and you WILL succeed! And we'll be with you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed.
I smiled at them, they were right.
I was about to respond when there was a rumble from overhead. It was a large hot air balloon in the shape of-
"Here we go…" I muttered.
"Huh, they have new uniforms." Brock remarked.
"GUESS WHO, PREPARE FOR TROUBLE IF YOU WANT A HINT TO TAKE!"
"Hey!" I yelled.
"MAKE IT DOUBLE, WE'RE TAKING PIKACHU AND THAT'S NO MISTAKE!"
"Hey, you three!"
"TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM DEVASTATION!"
"HEY!"
"TO UNITE ALL PEOPLES WITHIN OUR NATION!"
"HEY, TEAM ROCKET!"
"DON'T INTERRUPT US, TWERP! TO DENOUNCE THE EVILS OF TRUTH AND LOVE"
"TEAM ROCKEEEEEEET!"
"THAT'S GETTING ANNOYING, TO EXTEND OUR REACH TO THE STARS ABOVE!"
"Jessie!"
"JAME- WAIT, I'M JESSIE! STOP IT, TWERP!"
"JAMES?"
"MEOWTH, THAT'S R-"
"Left!" I shouted.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, TWERP?"
"Team Rocket, either talk normally into the megaphone or shout WITHOUT the megaphone." I said, rubbing my ears.
"Fine, we'll just take your Pikachu." Jessie snapped.
"Fine, I'll just tell Oshawott to..."
"Tell Oshawott to what?" James asked.
"Use razor shell."
"What?"
I pointed to a spinning object as it punctured their balloon. Apparently they hadn't noticed me call out Oshawott. The scalchop had done its job and there was a giant hole in the balloon.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu sent a wave of electric energy and Team Rocket went out with a bang as usual.
"So, you have a ride to Pallet?" I asked as if we weren't interrupted.
"Yup, she's waiting over here."
"She?"
"Yup, my beautiful baby."
"Brock?"
"She's the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on."
"I-"
"You should see the way she rides."
"Uh…"
"She smells Pineco fresh."
"What?"
"She's even more beautiful now that I washed her."
"Dude, you're creeping me out now."
"Tada!" He said.
I took one look and burst out laughing. Pikachu squealing with laughter along with me. "Brock, it's a car!"
We laughed again as Brock put on a hurt face. "She's not just a car; she's the love of my life. Don't tell anyone." He hugged the gray car.
"Yeah, wouldn't want all your 'girlfriends' to get jealous. Who shouldn't I tell, Nurse Joy in Pewter City, Nurse Joy in Viridian City, Nurse Joy in Celadon, Nurse Joy in Saffron, Nurse Joy in Cerulean, Nurse Joy in Lavender Town, Nurse Joy in Lilycove, Nurse Joy in Jubilife, Nurse Joy in Goldenrod, Officer Jenny in Vermilion, Officer Jenny in Violet, Officer Jenny in Mossdeep, Officer Jenny in Snowpoint, Officer Jenny-"
"I get it!" Brock said with a deep blush.
"Good, I was about to run out of breath. I should have just said 'every girl you've professed your undying love for' which is pretty much every girl you meet. Why is it gray?"
"My brothers and sisters helped me pick her out. And don't say 'it' because that makes her less human."
"That's because it's not human…or a Pokémon…it's a car."
"You want a ride or not?"
"I'm not calling it 'she' at all."
"Alright, alright." He sighed, getting in the car.
I climbed into the passenger seat with Pikachu on my lap.
"Wow, it does smell Pineco fresh!" I said.
"Hey Ash, you know what I've noticed?"
"That Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys don't like you the way you think they do?"
Brock shook his head as he started to drive. "You seem to switch a lot."
"Huh? I don't get it."
"You act like a ten year old sometimes and other times you act like you're sixteen." Brock explained as we drove through the Viridan Forest path. "It's almost like a battle is going on inside of you."
"You mean like a Pokémon battle?"
"Yeah, one where no one ever wins."
"No way, I will figure this out and then I can be a Pokémon Master. Am I going crazy, then?"
"No." Brock replied simply. He stared ahead for a while. I was about to ask him to explain further when he opened his mouth to respond. "As a mature and wise-" I snickered. "AS a mature and wiser person who has learned from travelling with you, I would say to follow your dream. What's been your dream since the beginning?"
I smiled. "Since the beginning of time…since I first laid eyes on a Pokémon…I want to be the best."
"I also say you shouldn't give up. I know you have this conflict with your ten year old self, but you also have one thing that's stayed through the years."
"Pikachu? Friends? My mom? Awesome hair?"
Brock shook his head. "Well, maybe all of those. Except hair, everyone knows mine is the most amazing hairdo ever." I snickered again. "No, Ash, you have boundless confidence."
"Huh?"
"Meaning, you're courageous, loyal, energetic, stubborn, reckless, and ambitious. When you set your mind to something, you don't give up. You've walked the regions and explored the world around you. I can't make your next steps for you."
"Would you battle?"
"What?"
"If I'm going to keep battling and strengthen my skills, I want to battle anyone and everyone I can."
"Is this your master quest?"
"Yup. I'm going to be a Pokémon master. I need to catch and train more Pokémon and I will challenge the leagues again. I'm going to the top."
"Glad to see the dream never died."
I shook my head. "Never. It lasts forever."
Brock nodded. "Then I'm with you."
I blinked and looked at him. "S-seriously? But what about being a Pokémon doctor? I thought-"
"I spent the entire time travelling to be a breeder, what's the harm in travelling as a doctor in training. I can help when you're out in the field. But that all depends if you want to keep going."
We were silent for a while as thoughts swirled around in my head. If I didn't go on this journey, what would be the point of much? If I did go on the journey, would it prove anything? Maybe I would actually succeed…but maybe I would fail…failure…that's what I'm afraid of…I don't want to fail…I don't want to lose Pikachu…I don't want to lose anyone…Charizard's sick…I wish I knew what to do…
I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was
Pokémon…I was so excited to prove myself…Am I still? Will I still be able to claim the title of Pokémon Master?
My whole life has led to this
Was it worth it? Waiting for ten years to start my journey…It's been awesome…one amazing journey after another…meeting more amazing friends with each coming challenge…
It's the friends you make; it's the road you choose
I've got what it takes…so why is it hard to make my mind up? Ten year old me, what do you think I should do?
On the road, far from home,
you don't have to feel alone
Everyone's been with me this whole time. Pikachu, Mom, Professor Oak, Gary, Brock, Misty, Ritchie, Tracey, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan and all the rest of my Pokémon and the Trainers I met…
A new adventure, another day
one more challenge that comes our way
…
…
"Ash, wake up."
I yawned, not having realized that I dozed off.
"Sorry, hey we're here!" I said. I jumped out of the car, excitement filling me up. Pikachu woke up with a start and jumped on my shoulder. I ran to my house and opened the door. "Mom! I'm home!"
I frowned as no one responded. "Mimey?"
"Pika?"
"Hmm…"
"Hey, Ash!" Brock called. "There's a note on the door. Professor Oak needs you in his lab right away!"
"Right, can't keep him waiting!" I rushed out with Brock close by.
We arrived, panting, a few minutes later. I burst open the doors and an assistant looked questioningly at me. She had a long lab coat on and her hair was in a bun.
"Hello, my name is Brock." Brock said, turning red as he ran over to her. "And might I say you look lovely today. Such a sweet person as you must have a name that matches your perfect beauty."
"My name is Mary and-"
"Ah Mary, your name is like a match, lighting fireworks in my heart. You are truly the most beautiful person I've ever seen. I mean you radiate beauty that can be compared to a Milotic."
The woman sighed and shook her head. "Thank you, my husband thinks so too."
I tried not to laugh as Brock looked downcast and trudged over to me.
"He's a lucky man…"
"We're looking for Professor Oak; he said he needed me right away." I said.
Mary ignored Brock's sad moans and looked at me. "I don't recall him ever notifying me, but he is around back if you want to find him."
"Thank you." I said, pulling the heartbroken Brock with me.
He snapped out of it as soon as we went into another room.
"Should I put her on the list too?"
"What list?"
I smiled. "The list of girls who will NOT date Brock. Maybe I should set you up with Gary's sister. Or maybe with one of Misty's sisters. Or maybe you should see if they have a wedding ring on before you start flirting."
"Could you be ten again?" Brock mumbled, his face turning darker pink.
"Aw, someone needs a Muk hug." I said as I ran outside.
"Yeah sure- wait!"
I laughed and called for Muk.
"Muk!" The Pokémon said, tackling me before I got two steps out the door.
"Hey Muk, Brock needs a hug."
Muk grinned and looked behind me. Brock laughed nervously and backed away.
"No Muk, I'm perfectly fi-AAAH!" He was tackled to the ground by Muk.
I stood up and peered outside.
"SURPRISE!"
I gasped at all the people who had showed up. It looked like the whole town had come.
Brock and Muk managed to make it outside, probably with Muk dragging my friend.
My friends were there; my mom was there, even all the Pokémon were there. Well, minus Charizard and maybe twenty Tauros. I told Professor Oak that he could give my Tauros to deserving Trainers and he found a whole bunch of kids who never got a chance to try to get Tauros.
I would have laughed and cheered with them, if not for the sudden flash of pain.
"Urgh!"
"Pika!"
"Ash!"
Mom…Pikachu…It was too much…my eyelids felt heavy…