Author's note: Two chapters in a weekend - that's a rare occurrence; your reviews inspired more writing! Please leave me more reviews.
Chapter 7
Ash and Brock sat on the grass outside watching their Pokémon play with each other in the sun and catching up after so long apart. Tracey lost the game of rock, paper, scissors and had the honour of giving the results of Psyduck's check up to Misty. They decided to stay out of the way as they suspected Misty may blow up at the news. However, they knew she wanted to get some official gym paperwork done in the afternoon before they ate so they took the opportunity to catch up.
"How is doctor training going then, Brock?" Ash asked.
"Surprisingly well," Brock replied honestly. "I don't know why I never considered it as a career path before. It certainly helps having Chansey as my assistant. I've learned so much over the years and about so many Pokémon over the regions."
"Yeah, it's a shame you couldn't have joined me on my journey through Unova and Kalos," Ash sighed. "They were awesome!"
"I gathered that," Brock smiled. "Your Pokémon look stronger than ever. I must say I'm really impressed with your Gabite."
"Yeah, he's really come a long way," Ash said proudly. "I'm aiming to challenge Cynthia once we get even stronger. Her Garchomp is a fierce opponent and I can't wait to have a fighting chance against her."
Brock considered his young friend for a moment, the strong determination evident on his face.
"In so many ways, you're different, Ash," Brock said matter-of-factly. "You're still Ash but you've also grown."
"Age does that, I suppose," Ash replied, the statement going completely over his head.
"No," Brock said, shaking his head, "you misunderstand me. You're a lot stronger. I can see it." He glanced at the Pokémon and nodded to them. "Did you know that Pokémon take on similar traits that their trainer has?"
"Yeah?"
"You're so close with your Pokémon," Brock continued, "so they will feel as you do. Haven't you ever noticed that when you get psyched up for a battle, they do too? Or when you have a rival, they also want to defeat them? They're down to do anything you want to do without question." He slyly looked at Ash out of the corner of his eye. "Of course, it goes without saying that when you're really fond of someone, your Pokémon are too."
"What?" Ash asked, eyebrows raised.
"Pikachu is a great example," Brock nodded. "He loves Misty!"
"That doesn't mean I do!" Ash retorted hotly.
"Oh yeah?" Brock challenged, raising one eyebrow. "So how come you came here rather than staying in Pallet Town with your mom, Gary and Professor Oak?"
"I was there," Ash defended himself.
"And now you're here," Brock pushed.
"It's just been a long time," Ash shrugged. "It wasn't really the same after you guys left."
"And you sought out Misty and not me?" Brock questioned, placing a hand flat on his chest. "I'm hurt."
"Oi," Ash elbowed him. "We both know that you're off travelling to various places in training."
"I'm just kidding," Brock grinned. "So, what's going on with you two anyway?"
Ash looked at him incredulously. "Nothing, honestly! Why do you ask that?"
"I don't know," Brock shrugged. "Maybe I was wrong, but I thought you came here to see Misty."
"I did."
"And that's all?" Brock challenged him.
"What else is there?" Ash asked.
"I don't know, maybe eight years of friendship," Brock suggested.
"Isn't that what there is?" Ash asked confused.
"It's nice to see you're just as dense as ever," Brock commented, slapping him on the shoulder. "Have I taught you nothing?"
"Yes," Ash said flatly, "don't chase girls. It gets you nowhere."
At this, Brock bit his lip, trying his hardest to prevent the laughter from bursting out of him.
"What's going on with your face?" Ash frowned.
"It's just my journey has been a little more interesting than I let on…" Brock smirked.
"Alright, go on," Ash urged.
"Well, I kind of couldn't help myself the first day of class, as I'm sure you can imagine," Brock started. Ash nodded, rolling his eyes, chuckling. "There was this girl in my class, and she was b-e-a-u-tiful! Honestly, I don't think my serenade did her justice."
"Hold it," Ash interrupted, "you serenaded her?!"
"I've done worse!" Brock defended himself.
"Oh, dear God," Ash muttered under his breath. "Alright, go on."
"Well, to be honest, in hindsight it was probably a bit much," Brock went on. "She avoided me for six months," Ash's eyes widened, "and then, we all had time away studying at different hospitals and she happened to be at my placement in Johto, which is quite possibly one of the reasons I was there so long. Thanks to Croagunk, who I had with me at the time, kept me in line so I reined it in and we got talking. Turns out she's a cousin of the Nurse Joy family and we have a lot in common. We eventually went out on a date and we're still together to this day on a casual basis as we travel across regions a lot."
"Wow," Ash said, for lack of anything else coming to mind. "I didn't expect you to have a girlfriend."
Brock had the good grace to blush gently at that, not really having heard that out loud. "Well, I'm not sure if we're really official but it's new."
"There's only one person I ever saw you not hit on and that's Misty," Ash snorted.
Brock stared at him like he had two heads. "You seriously don't know why I didn't?"
"She's terrifying?"
"Wow, Ash, you're dumb," Brock shook his head, laughing.
"Tracey, do you mind letting all the Pokémon out into the pool?" Misty asked, walking into the gym arena with her hands clasping piles of paper.
"Sure," Tracey nodded. He pointed to her handfuls of paper in her grasp. "What's all that?"
"Oh, it's all the details on the Pokémon here at the gym," she told him. "I was just looking at when the evolved Pokémon evolved and at what point after the expected level of evolution they evolved. I'm just wondering about Psyduck."
"Oh, right?" Tracey replied, walking over to where all the Pokéballs were kept, releasing them into the water one by one.
"Well, Psyduck is at a surprisingly high level considering he's not really much of a battler," she continued. "But he's really powerful, so he does have potential to evolve. The problem is he's not showing any signs of evolving any time soon."
"What do you think it is then?" Tracey asked, bending down to pat Politoed on the head.
"Hmm, I can't be sure," she mused. "I'm wondering if he's just unhappy, though I'm beginning to wonder why he'd be unhappy."
"Well, I suppose he can't tell us," Tracey replied. "Anyway, as you know I'll be going back to Pallet Town at the end of week, and I presume Ash and Brock will join me, will you join us?"
Misty stopped flicking through the pages in her hands and looked up at Tracey through her lashes, then she lifted her head up to stare at him head on. She puffed air into her cheeks and exhaled.
"I don't know," she shrugged, shaking her head gently. "I honestly didn't think about it." Obviously, she was lying through the skin of her teeth. "The gym didn't have any challengers booked in this week, but I know I've got one at the beginning of next week. Perhaps I can close the gym after that for a few days. It's been a while since I've seen Mrs Ketchum and Professor Oak anyway."
"Uh huh," Tracey frowned. "Well, cool. It'll be good if you could join us."
"Mm hmm," Misty grunted, flicking through the papers once again, vacating the gym.
"Tell me more about Kalos, then," Brock prompted, leaning back.
"It was intense," Ash replied, thinking to himself that he needs to find something else to say, but it was all that came to mind.
"In what way?"
"The battles were really demanding," he said, "we had to put in a lot more training. And you know, the Lumiose Conference was epic! It really proved to me how far me and my Pokémon have come. Then of course that high ended when Team Flare ruined everything. And I left Greninja to take care of Kalos which was hard, but I think I did the right thing." He sighed. "Then there was that thing with Serena…"
"Wait, you and a girl?"
"Well, I've known Serena since we were kids. We both attended a Pokémon Summer Camp, hosted by Professor Oak and I don't know," he shrugged, "she remembered me and then travelled with me, Clemont and Bonnie. After all that stuff with Team Flare and we were all parting ways, it got a bit weird and I didn't know how to respond…" he trailed off.
"Wait, what happened?" Brock frowned, leaning forward.
Psyduck came out from behind them and sat down. Brock and Ash stared at the duck Pokémon's unexpected appearance and shot glances at each other.
"What are you doing here, Psyduck?" Ash asked, realising it was pointless to even ask.
They both turned at the sound of a lot of huffing and puffing and Misty skidded in front of them.
"There you are!" she wheezed.
"Misty?" Ash asked, his brow furrowed, concern evident on his face.
"Oh, I'm fine," she waved his worry away. "I was just looking for Psyduck. I never know where he is anymore, and it worries me." Brock and Ash exchanged raised eyebrows. "What? I care!" She stood up straight and looked between the two of them. "Hold on, why is Psyduck with you?"
"I'm afraid neither of us speak duck," Ash said jokingly.
Misty swatted the back of his head, making them suddenly both aware that she was still wearing his hat.
