After spending a few days training in Viridian City, Ash and Misty had continued their journey. The duo had arrived in the Viridian Forest earlier in the day, and Ash was beginning to regret allowing Misty to travel with him. She would constantly scream the moment she saw a Bug type, and it was starting to get on Ash's nerves. Pikachu was even considering going into his Poké Ball, so he wouldn't have to deal with the redhead's screaming. Eventually they stopped in a peaceful clearing for lunch. The duo released their Pokémon, and sat down to eat.

After they had finished their food, the two trainers continued on their way, both wanting to get out of the forest as soon as possible (though they each had slightly different reasons). After getting tired of being lost, Ash released Pidgeotto to help find the way out of the forest from the sky. Eventually they managed to find their way out of the forest and arrived in Pewter City.

"Thank Arceus!" Ash exclaimed, sitting down on a slab of stone nearby, "I was starting to think we would never get out of that forest!". Misty agreed, thankful she wouldn't have to deal with Bug types for a while, besides Ash's Beedrill. The duo didn't notice the bearded man sitting on a rock below them.

"Pewter city is grey, the colour of stone. This town has always been famous for stone", the man said, with a somewhat monotone voice. Ash jumped at the sound of the voice and looked down to see the man. He was wearing a yellow sleeveless shirt and dark green pants. He wore a crimson beanie on his head and wore white gloves.

"What the…? Who are you?"" Ash questioned.

"The name's Flint," the man answered, "and you're sitting on some of my merchandise, young man".

"Oh sorry!" Ash apologised, getting off of the slab, "Wait, you mean you sell rocks?" he asked puzzled.

"Pewter City souvenirs," he replied, "Wanna buy some?" he asked.

"No thanks" Ash declined, not sure why anyone would want one.

"Chaa" Pikachu sighed weakly.

"Very well, but your Pikachu looks tired" Flint stated, "Follow me, I'll show to the Pokémon Center" he offered.

"I guess he's a nice guy after all" Ash whispered to Misty.

"Are you sure?" Misty asked, still a little suspicious.

"By the way, that will be a two dollar fine for resting on my rocks" Flint added, Ash and Misty both collapsed in comedic, anime fashion.

Flint led the trainers to the Pokémon Center, where they had their Pokémon healed by Nurse Joy. While he was waiting for his Pokémon to be healed, Ash noticed a poster for the Pokémon League, making him more determined to defeat the Pewter Gym.

Flint approached the 13 year old, "You really think you can beat Leader Brock?" He asked the boy, not believing he could.

"Of course I can!" Ash replied, offended that this man he had only just met, judged him so poorly.

"We'll see" said Flint, walking out of the Center, chuckling to himself. Ash determined to prove Flint wrong, collected his Pokémon, ready for a day of training, learning new moves and getting prepared for the Gym Battle.

After two days of preparation, Ash entered the Pewter Gym. The room was pitch-black.

"Who goes there?" a voice called out from the darkness. Ash turned towards the direction of the voice to see a light shining down on dark skinned teenager. He looked to be about five years older than Ash, and had brown spiky hair. He wore an orange shirt, with a green vest and brown pants. The teen's eyes were squinted, and looked like nothing more than lines. Ash also noticed that he wore a brown wrist band, similar to the one he noticed Misty wear. Misty had gone to the Pewter Museum to wait for Ash to finish his battle.

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town" Ash answered, "I'm here for a battle with Brock" he explained. The dark skinned boy stood up.

"I am Brock" he told Ash, "Do you have any Gym Badges?" he asked.

"No, none yet" Ash informed the Gym Leader. The lights in the gym turned on, as Brock walked over to a wall and opened a draw, holding many Poké Balls. He chose two and pressed a button, before walking to the battle field. A referee entered the room and took his place at the side of the field.

"Each trainer will use two Pokémon each, only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Understand?" the referee explained. Ash nodded and took his place on the field as well.

Brock released his Pokémon first, "Geodude, go!", a small grey boulder-like Pokémon with a face, and two muscular arms appeared on the field.

"Geo!" it cried, ready for battle.

"Nidoran, I choose you!" ash cried as he threw his Poké Ball and released his Poison rabbit.

"Nido!" it growled, also ready for battle.

The referee raised the flags he was holding, "Begin the match!" he called and the battle started.

"You may make the first move, Ash" Brock offered.

"Fine by me!" Ash accepted, "Nidoran, use Double Kick!" Ash ordered, Nidoran ran at Geodude, and did a front flip before kicking the rock type twice with his hind-legs. Geodude flinched at the attack but recovered quickly.

"Geodude, use Rollout!" Brock ordered, Geodude tucked its arms in and began rolling at a high speed towards Nidoran.

"Nidoran, quick use Water Pulse!" Ash ordered, "WHAT?!" Brock cried out, surprised by the order for a water attack. A ball of water formed in front of Nidoran, which he launched at the rolling boulder Pokémon. Geodude was moving too fast to stop and avoid the water attack, and was hit. The super effective move knocked out Geodude immediately.

"Geodude is unable to battle, Nidoran wins!" exclaimed the ref, declaring Ash the winner of the first round. Brock recalled Geodude.

"Impressive Ash, I wasn't expecting Nidoran to use Water Pulse" Brock complimented, "But we will see how well you do against my next Pokémon!", Brock threw his second Poké Ball and released a giant serpent Pokémon, its body made up of about 15 boulders. Rather than saying its name, it only roared. Ash looked it up on his Pokédex.

"Onix, the Rock Snake Pokémon. It tunnels through the ground which shakes when it raises its thunderous roar. It can move through the ground at fifty miles per hour." Ash started sweating at the sight of the rock snake, but quickly focused back on the battle.

"Nidoran, Double Kick!" Ash ordered. Nidoran charged at Onix and jumped, ready to hit Onix.

"Onix, Slam!" Brock ordered, Nidoran's attack was stopped, when Onix lifted its tail and slam it into the poison type. Nidoran flew into the wall and collapsed unconscious.

The ref lifted the flag on Brock's side, "Nidoran is unable to battle, Onix wins!" he declared. Ash recalled Nidoran, and thanked him for the great job, then turned to Pikachu.

"You ready to go buddy?" he asked his yellow partner.

"Pikaa!" Pikachu replied, as he ran out on to the field. Brock wasn't sure what to think of this decision, but didn't bother to question it.

"Onix, use Rock Throw!" Brock ordered. Onix lifted a pile of rocks with its tail and threw them at Pikachu.

"Pikachu dodge and use Quick Attack!" Ash ordered. Pikachu avoided the rocks easily, thanks to the speed it gained from Quick Attack and slammed into Onix, doing more damage to itself than to the serpent. Pikachu ran back to Ash's side of the field, ready to keep going.

"Onix, use Tackle!" Brock ordered, Onix slithered along the battle field quickly. This was what Ash was hoping for would happen, he grinned.

"Pikachu use Grass Knot!" Pikachu's eyes glowed green for a moment then two large, blades of Grass burst through the battlefield and tied together, tripping Onix.

"Now, follow up with Brick Break!" Ash ordered. The mouse's paw glowed white and hit the Rock/Ground type, knocking it out.

"Onix, is unable to continue, Pikachu wins, which means the challenger is the victor!" the referee declared. Ash ran up to Pikachu and hugged him, thanking him for his effort. Brock recalled Onix, and approached Ash.

"Congratulations Ash, I never would have guessed Pikachu knew Grass Knot or Brick Break" He admitted, "Can I admit something to you?" he asked.

"What is it?" Ash inquired.

Brock sighed, "The truth is I prefer raising Pokémon, rather than battle them" he explained. "My real dream is to become a Pokémon Breeder, not be a Gym Leader". "But I can't leave Pewter City, because of my 9 younger siblings" he continued, "My parents aren't around to look after them so I can't leave", he explained, "So I want you to take the Boulder Badge and fulfil my dream. Can you do that for me, Ash?" the Gym Leader requested.

"Of course" Ash agreed and accepted the Gym Badge.

"You go and fulfill your own dream, Brock" a voice said from the entrance of the Gym, Ash turned to see Flint.

"Flint? What are you doing here?" Ash asked, clearly confused. Brock had stern look on his face.

"My father…" Brock identified the man.

"Huh!?" Ash exclaimed, even more confused than before.

"I left home to become a Pokémon Trainer, but I failed and couldn't show my face to my family, Flint explained, "But now I see that I was being selfish and keeping Brock from his dreams" he admitted. Ash was now understood most of what was happening.

"Brock, I will look after our family, you go and follow your dreams" Flint told his son.

"Thank you father, but first there are somethings I need to tell you" Brock told his father.

"After all these years I understand how you must feel about me, so I want you to get chest" said Flint.

"Here" said Brock as he handed his father a needle and thread.

"Suzie always rips her dresses so you better know how to sew, and Timmy only eats cold spaghetti for breakfast, Tommy likes Corn flakes for dinner" Brock told his father all he needed to know about taking care of the children.

"Slow down! I can't write that fast!" Flint exclaimed, trying to write down everything Brock was telling him, on a notepad he had pulled out of nowhere. Brock continued on for a while.

After meeting back up with Misty, Ash and friends were back on their way, now joined by Brock.

"Ash, are you sure it's okay if I go with you on your journey?" Brock asked his new friend.

"Sure, the more the merrier!" Ash replied with enthusiasm.

"So where are we headed now?" Misty asked, Brock looked at his Town Map.

"It looks like the closest town with a Gym is Cerulean City". Misty cringed at the mention of the name, 'I don't want to go back so soon' she thought to herself.

"We have to go through Mt. Moon to get there though" Brock stated.

Ash walked ahead, "Fine by me!" he exclaimed and ran towards the distant mountain. Brock and Misty ran to catch up with their companion.