So, this is Chapter 10.
Thank you to everyone who favorited or added this story to their alerts. And a special thanks to LadyKarma18, starlight luna, jezzatko, UnsafestMoss81, Fawx999, Iceman99, KaliAnn, JJWalker12, and thor94 for your reviews.
So, Ash's second battle with Brock is here, and some questions are raised.
Um, hehe. *rubs back of neck and smiles sheepishly* I only just googled N and Pokémon and figured out what the hell everyone was talking about. The reviews make a lot more sense now. And, as I only just realized who N was, I have no plans regarding him yet. Maybe I'll study him and add some, but…haha I don't know yet.
Yeah, so…
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. *runs around the room, arms flailing wildly as I try to convey the agony of this fact*
Pikachu ran through a hastily-constructed obstacle course while the other Pokémon attacked and Ash called out orders.
It was near dawn when Pikachu finally pulled off a Quick Attack for the first time and a Thundershock that had everyone on the ground twitching and groaning incoherently. Ash whooped for joy as Pikachu collapsed next to him.
"You did it!" The other Pokémon congratulated Pikachu as well.
"Ash?" Misty's voice rang out through the forest.
Ash scooped the now-sleeping Pikachu into his arms, returned the other Pokémon into their Pokéballs, and sought her out.
He found her just within the forest. Her face brightened when she saw him; however, there was still unconcealed fury in her green eyes.
"Hey Misty, Pikachu can do Quick Attack now." Ash enthused. He caught sight of her eyes and paled. "Is something wrong? Did I do something?"
"You'd better beat him Ash." Misty informed him. She began muttering darkly under her breath, looking lost in her thoughts. Ash gently took her arm and led her back to the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy took in the sight of the exhausted Pikachu and his trainer as Ash sat Misty down in one of the chairs with a raised eyebrow, but she didn't comment.
Four hours later, Ash opened sleepy eyes to see Pikachu. Pikachu butted his head against Ash's chin again, and Ash smiled, still half-asleep.
"Hey Pikachu, how are you feeling?"
"Ash, no matter what happens, don't surrender the match." Pikachu's voice was firm. "I want to prove that I'm not a weakling, and I can't do that if you end the match before I'm unconscious or I win."
Ash stopped rubbing his eyes and frowned at the electric Pokémon. "Are you sure?" he whispered into Pikachu's ear.
"I'm sure." Pikachu gave a fierce grin. "Let's see him call me weak after today."
Ash cuddled Pikachu to his chest and then shook Misty. The girl startled awake, but relaxed when she saw Ash and Pikachu.
"So Pikachu and I are going to head over now. Do you want to come with?" Ash asked, standing up. In answer, Misty hauled herself out of her seat and walked with him to the gym.
"Good luck." She told them before climbing the stairs up to the bleachers to watch.
"So, you're back." Ash turned to see Brock watching him, arms crossed. "Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
Ash glared. "We're ready this time."
Brock chuckled. "We'll see." He set up the arena again, and they took their places.
Brock released Geodude. Ash glanced down at Pikachu. "It's up to you Pikachu."
"Let's do it!" Pikachu cheered, stepping out onto the field.
"Go, Pikachu!" Ash cried, and Pikachu sent out a Thundershock attack. Not his most powerful: no, that he was saving. They had talked about it, and had come to the conclusion that Brock would play his Onix at some point. That was who Pikachu really want to face and win against. Ash agreed.
Geodude fell to the ground with a thud, groaning. "Ow." He grumbled, eyes out-of-focus.
"Sorry." Pikachu said, not sounding sorry at all.
Brock had a stunned expression on his face. Then he grinned. "Geodude, return!" Geodude was pulled back into his Pokéball.
Brock pulled out another Pokéball, and Ash tensed. This was it.
"So, you've trained your Pikachu up a little. Well, it's still no match for Onix." He released the rock Pokémon.
"Again?" the Pokémon sighed when he caught sight of his opponent.
Pikachu's cheeks were sparking, but there was also fear too. A little electricity hit the floor next to Onix, and Ash realized what was happening.
"Pikachu, listen to me!" he yelled. "Pikachu…" The small electric mouse was shaking and more electricity was attacking the arena.
"Pikachu! Pika!" Ash shouted. "Pikachu, you can do it!"
Pikachu looked back at Ash and firmed up, nodding. Onix tried to attack while Pikachu was distracted, but Ash saw him.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack." Pikachu took off running, and Onix was hard-pressed to keep up. "Thundershock!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu screamed out, shocking Onix with everything he had. Onix bellowed in pain, thrashing around, instinctively trying to get away from whatever was causing the pain.
"Onix!" Brock cried out, anguished. Onix crashed down onto the ground a moment later.
Pikachu stopped shocking the poor Pokémon, and took a step back, waiting for Ash's words.
But Ash didn't say them. He opened his mouth, but found himself suddenly adorned with young children. They were clinging to him everywhere they could reach.
"Huh?" he asked eloquently.
"You leave Onix alone. My brother worked hard to raise him, you big bully." One little boy cried out.
"But I'm not a bully." Ash defended.
"Get off, all of you." Brock ordered his siblings. "This is an official match, and we're going to finish it. No matter what."
Ash saw Pikachu eyeing him, waiting. "Pikachu, return." He called. Pikachu hesitated. "Pikachu, enough. You've proven that you aren't weak. Leave Onix alone."
Pikachu ran back to him. "I wanted to finish." He grumbled. Then he brightened. "But I did win, didn't I? Ha! Take that!"
Ash smiled at his Pokémon. Brock yelled, "This match isn't over."
"Yes. It is." Ash glared at Brock. "And you owe Pikachu an apology."
"W-what?" Brock felt so confused. Could that girl have been right about Ash?
"You called Pikachu weak. I think that it's safe to say we proved you wrong. But you need to say you were wrong." Ash waited patiently.
"I'm sorry Pikachu. I shouldn't have called you weak." Brock finally said to Pikachu.
Pikachu huffed. "Well, you're right about that."
Ash just smiled and left the gym, Pikachu following him closely.
Misty sighed. "I should have guessed."
Ash was waiting for Misty when Brock found him. "Ash."
"Brock?"
"You forgot this." Brock held out a Boulder Badge.
Ash didn't move to take it. "I can't take that. I didn't win the battle and anyway I that wasn't the reason I came into your gym."
Brock was stunned. "Then why did you come in?"
"I wanted to talk to the local gym leader about Pokémon. Things like breeding, and training, and food." Ash explained earnestly.
Brock felt horrible. That girl had been right. "I'm sorry Ash. I didn't realize." He saw Ash's blank look, and hastened to say, "There are so many trainers wanting to battle me since that Champion League Tournament was announced. I guess I mistook you for one of them."
Ash shook it off. "It's okay." He replied.
"To tell you the truth, I take more pleasure in raising Pokémon than in making them battle. But I can't leave here because I have to look after my brothers and sisters." He turned back to Ash. "I want you to take this and fulfill my dream. Will you do that for me Ash?"
Ash nodded firmly. "I will. And I'll do my best to deserve this too." He took the badge from Brock's hand.
"Go and follow your dream Brock." Flint said. He removed his hat and beard.
"My father." Brock said.
Ash looked between them, astounded. "You're the good-for-nothing father who left and never came back?"
Flint nodded. "I was too ashamed to come back to my family after my failure to become a Pokémon trainer."
"But why did you want to help me and not Brock?" Ash asked.
"You reminded me of me." Flint replied. "You didn't seem to have a chance either." Ash scowled and Pikachu began muttering furiously. Ash actually blushed at some of the things that were coming out of his friend's mouth.
Brock decided that Ash was angry and turned his attention back to Flint as the other man said, "Now it's time for me to take care of my family. You go fulfill your dream, Brock."
"First, there are some things I need to tell you." Brock said, reaching into his pocket for something.
Flint sighed. "After all these years, I understand. And I deserve it. Go ahead and get it all of your chest."
"Here." Brock handed him something. Ash stared when he saw the sewing needle and thread in Flint's hands.
As Brock began telling Flint exactly how to take care of his siblings, Ash saw Misty emerge from the gym. She smiled at him.
"Brock's father came back and Brock can leave Pewter City. And Brock apologized. He thought I was here only to battle him. And he gave me a gym badge. He wouldn't take no for an answer." Ash showed her the Boulder Badge in his fist.
Misty shook her head. "Only you, Ash."
"What do you mean?"
Misty laughed. "Never mind Ash. So, what's happening now?"
"Ash." They both turned to see Brock standing with his father. "I'm going to introduce Dad to my siblings now, but I was wondering if I could travel with you, at least for a little while?"
Ash smiled warmly. "Sure. Uh," he glanced at Misty. "Is that okay?"
"Yes." Misty replied.
They stocked up on supplies while they waited for Brock to get his travel bag together and say goodbye to his brothers and sisters. When he joined them, he was beaming with excitement.
"Are you sure it's okay for me to come with you and Misty, Ash?" Brock asked, eyeing Misty hesitantly. He remembered her slap very well.
Ash didn't notice. "Of course it is. The more the merrier. Right Pikachu?" Pikachu barked out an agreement.
"Oh no." Misty pointed at the ground, where Jesse, James, and Meowth's heads were popping up from a hole.
"I don't want to deal with them right now. Come on!" Ash started running. Pikachu quickly took off after him. Misty, laughing, soon followed.
"Hey, wait up!" Brock shouted as he chased after his new friends. "Why are we running?"
Pikachu made sure to stomp on Jesse's face, and Brock unknowingly ran over James' head in his haste to catch up to his new friends.
They camped down that night just off of the path. Brock made a fire and they all snacked on sandwiches that they'd made prior to leaving Pewter City.
"Can I have more?" Pikachu asked after he finished his meal.
Ash chuckled and gave him half. "Here you go Pikachu."
Brock's eyebrows furrowed in thought. Misty motioned him to be quiet and Brock obeyed, gulping.
After Ash and Pikachu curled up together and drifted off, Brock motioned a little further into the forest. Misty nodded, and they walked away from Ash, keeping him in sight.
"You have questions." Misty wasn't surprised. She had questions herself.
"Yes. How did he train his Pikachu so fast? And I owe you an apology. I should have listened to you. Ash really does care for his Pokémon. More than I've ever seen. And he really knows what it needs."
"They are really close." Misty acknowledged. "They're really good friends."
"No. That's not what's so surprising. He said that he's only had Pikachu for two weeks?"
Misty looked shocked. "I didn't know that. I thought that they'd been together for a while, and he was just…" she trailed off. Now that she thought about it, it didn't make sense.
While with her, Ash had captured –in his bizarre way –three Pokémon. But when they'd first met, Ash only had one Pokémon. Pikachu. But he could catch new Pokémon just fine. He couldn't have been traveling that long and have only one Pokémon.
So how were Ash and Pikachu so close after so short an amount of time? In her experience, it took years to form that kind of a bond, and even then she'd never seen a Pokémon and his trainer so in sync with each other like they were.
She chanced a glance at the slumbering pair. "You haven't seen anything yet." She told Brock grimly. "You should see the way he catches Pokémon."
Brock looked intrigued. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, he sends Pikachu to the Pokémon, and then rolls a Pokéball over to them. And the Pokémon just tap the Pokéball and let themselves be captured."
"You're joking."
"Stick with us. You'll see." Misty walked over to her own sleeping bag and tucked herself in, ending the conversation and leaving Brock with much food for thought.
So, here it is. I hope you like it. And Brock and Misty are starting to get suspicious. O.o I wonder where that will lead. *looks around whistling innocently*
So, any suggestions are fine, reviews are wonderful, even one word review, constructive criticism is good, and flames will be used to light hot air balloons. Whee! Fun!