32: Pikachu vs. Brock
The scene was completely normal, yet also completely wrong. The sunny day was pleasant enough, everyone having woken up at the camping scene some time before. Breakfast had been prepared, for both the humans and pokemon, by the oldest human present, and they ate it silently. After finishing, Misty looked through a newspaper she'd picked up from their last stop. Ash brushed off Charizard, who pretended not to notice him while obviously enjoying being groomed. As the pokemon finished their own food in turn, they took time to stretch outside of their pokeballs or chase each other to play.
None of them acted like anything was wrong at all.
Finally, Misty said something. "Are you really going back home, Brock?" she asked.
Brock looked up from the pokemon food he was shaping into edible pieces. "Um... Yeah," he said with a sad smile. "I guess we'll split up before you all go on the ferry."
"Are you sure you don't want to travel a while longer?" Misty asked, holding the paper closer. "Then you can decide if, well, you really don't want to be a trainer anymore."
"I've already decided what I want," Brock declared, standing up. "I'm not going to let training pokemon get in the way. It's time to give this up." He closed the pokemon food container tightly before dusting off his hands.
"Pi..." Pikachu flinched at Brock's words. Were pokemon really that worthless?
"Don't worry, Pikachu," Brock assured. "I've almost got your food ready. Sorry it's late." He stopped preparing as Ash handed the brush back to him. "You'll have to get your own supplies like this if you want to keep up with this kind of pokemon care," he said.
"Uh, yeah, I'll get all that," Ash said. "But why do you gotta go? Why do you hate pokemon now?"
"Hey, of course I don't hate pokemon themselves," Brock began. "I just hate what the possibilities of pokemon do to people. They forget what's really important, like their human families. I don't ever want to be a person who forgets about the humans in my life in search of power through pokemon."
"But Brock, you never thought about pokemon's power much anyway, did you?" Misty pointed out. "You wanted to help pokemon be the best they could as a breeder, right? As a whole, not just strength, or at least that's what you said. I never heard you talking about how you had the most powerful pokemon, anyway. Even though your gym pokemon are pretty tough."
"I really don't know what I was thinking or why I ever wanted pokemon at all," Brock said. "They were necessary when I needed to keep the gym going for any kind of income, but I don't know why I thought I thought I'd need them long term." Brock walked over to the electric type pokemon, leaning down and holding out a bowl of food. "Here, Pikachu!"
Pikachu looked at the food in front of it, feeling numb from listening to Brock's words. Were pokemon really so disposable? They were only kept around as long as needed? Even Brock, who had previously seemed like one of the kindest humans Pikachu had even met, seemed to think so.
"I dunno, even if I didn't battle or anything, pokemon are just fun to be around," Ash said.
"Yeah," Misty agreed. "Even when I was really little, I didn't understand battles that much, but it was so fun just to see the pokemon. And then swim with them, too!"
"Of course they're fun to be around, but people forget about the humans they should be thinking about," Brock said. "I just can't be a part of that anymore. I'm just gonna get away from pokemon. I'm done with them."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called, swinging its tail and knocking over the container of offered food. Brock looked down at it with an expression of surprise. Pikachu frowned as it stared up in return.
"It's okay, Pikachu," Brock said, quickly patting the pokemon on the head. "I know you've been patient... You don't want it now after it's all been on the ground? I'll get you some more."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called harshly, running away from the scene, being sure to hit the bowl once more with its tail as it turned around.
"I guess Pikachu's not hungry," Ash commented.
"Is that it? Pikachu seems upset," Misty commented.
"I think so too, but I dunno why." Ash scratched his head.
"Well, let's just leave it alone for now," Brock said as he began to pick up the mess.
"Pika..." Pikachu dashed over to the tree nearby the footpath where Onix lounged and Geodude practiced its punches. "Pikachu!" it called to them. Why weren't they angry about what Brock was saying?
"Geodude?" Geodude gave a muted call in response. It wasn't sure why Pikachu was upset at all.
"Pika, pikachu!" Pikachu called. Brock was going to abandon them, leave them behind, then not care about them at all.
Onix raised its head only slightly, giving a minimal amount of effort to call out itself in response before its head thudded back on the ground. It didn't think Brock was going to do any of those things, and the human obviously did care about them all. "On," it called once more, adding that Pikachu was also one of the pokemon its trainer cared for.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu responded. That wasn't what Brock was saying at all. Weren't they even listening to the human go on? "Pikachu!" it called again, mocking Onix for being too useless to even see it was about to get tossed.
Zubat flew out of the tree, surprising Pikachu a moment before it called out its own response, emoting that it believed in its trainer. Everything was going to be fine.
Pikachu grit its teeth, knowing that just believing those things didn't make everything turn out alright. "Pikachu!" Pikachu continued with its insults against Brock's naïve pokemon. They ignored it for the most part. Onix did eventually turn around, passively swinging its tail toward Pikachu as it curled into a resting position. The electric type bounced out of the way, running past Brock as he came toward his pokemon with the brush.
Now done with breakfast, which might be the only meal necessary for pokemon that didn't train or battle that day, Brock was ready to groom his own pokemon. He used the same brush as Ash used on Charizard to brush off Zubat, finishing quicker than the younger boy as this pokemon was smaller. Brock then took out the brush specific to the rock types, and started in on them. "I guess this'll be easier at home," Brock commented offhand. "I won't have to settle for travel size."
"But Brock," Misty began. Brock jumped, not having noticed she and Ash had followed. Misty closed her eyes and continued. "Um, will you even have Onix and the rest at home? You didn't want to be a trainer anymore, did you? So..."
"Of course I'll keep them at home," Brock said. "I did before. That's where I had to take care of them most of the time. And even if I'm not a trainer anymore, I have nine brothers and sisters who all want to be. Onix and the rest will end up with one of them, when they're old enough. Or maybe Dad will need them at the gym."
"So you'll be a trainer a while yet," Misty said. "You're not just going to release them?"
Onix opened its eyes, carefully waiting for its trainer's response. Brock shook his head, getting closer as he brushed Onix more vigorously. "No. I mean, I don't know who they'll end up with. I hope my family doesn't forget what's important in life either, but that'll be up to each of them. I wouldn't want to release any of them when my siblings could have a reliable pokemon for themselves. Of course I'm going to take care of them until then."
"But you don't want them at all?" Ash asked.
Brock stopped brushing, taking a look in Onix's eyes as it half-opened them, also observing Brock in return. Brock had been so happy to catch it as his first pokemon, and Onix has been nothing but loyal and obedient in return. Geodude was also nearby, waiting for its own turn for Brock's care, showing off its muscular shape. The smaller rock type had been a more hasty catch so that Onix could have some relief from gym battles. Geodude had been eager to be trained and take on that responsibility. Zubat fluttered in the trees above them, looking sleeker, brighter, and overall much more healthy than it had when first caught. The pokemon's movement had caught Brock's eye that day in Mt. Moon, and he'd been so excited to catch it, despite zubat being a common species. It could learn some interesting techniques and he could learn more about aspects of pokemon care that weren't applicable to his rock types. Zubat's progress had really been amazing since he'd begun. Would he be able to teach everything to his siblings to ensure that standard continued? Of course, maybe they'd just want to continue the gym, and then none of them would want Zubat at all.
"Well, I hope you're happy, whatever you decide to do," Misty said, then leaned close to Ash's ear. "He didn't seem like he hated being around pokemon at all before," she muttered.
Ash didn't reply, and though Brock could easily hear, he decided not to either. Of course Brock didn't hate being around pokemon, before or now, but he wasn't going to expect Misty or Ash to understand the complications behind his decision, either. Brock turned back to Onix and continued the care routine in silence. The lull was broken up by Ash's shout. "Pikachu! What are you doing? Cut it out!"
Back at the yet to be packed up campsite, Pikachu had spilled over a canister of pokemon food. It was working on another, having some difficulty opening the lid with its tiny appendages. It managed, then moved to push it over as well.
"Squirtle, squirtle!" Squirtle called as it ran over, pushing the canister up from the other side.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called out roughly. It wasn't going to stop disposing of the food, no matter how delicious any other pokemon thought it was. "Pikachu!" Who needed anything from a person like that, anyway?
Ash lifted up the canister, interrupting the back and forth. He glared at Pikachu as he put back on the lid. "You need to cut it out. Brock works hard on this," he said.
"Squirtle, squirtle!" The water type pokemon waved its arms as it called out in agreement. "Squirtle, squirtle?" Besides, what problem did Pikachu have with a human that handed out such delicious treats?
"Pikachu!" Pikachu informed that Brock wanted to abandon all his pokemon.
"Squirtle, squirtle?" Squirtle put its arms in the air in an exaggerated shrug. Was that what the human was thinking of? Well, their interaction was nice while it lasted, wasn't it?
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called out in disdain of Squirtle's attitude. How could the pokemon be so easy going about humans that acted like that. "Pika CHU!" Pikachu let out a thundershock attack, hitting the overly relaxed pokemon easily.
"Squirtle!" Squirtle called out in surprise. It then smirked as it narrowed its eyes at Pikachu. "Squirtle, squirtle..." So Pikachu wanted a fight? Despite how powerful everyone said it was, it was going to be in for a challenge. "Squirtle!" Squirtle called as it went in its shell, flinging its body against Pikachu as part of the skull bash attack.
"Pika!" Pikachu called out as it was hit. It fell down, then got up, glowering at its teammate in return. Perhaps Pikachu hadn't been thinking Squirtle would fight back, but still knew it could win. "Pika..." it began, getting ready for the most powerful electric attack it could muster.
"Pikachu, Squirtle, stop it!" Ash shouted, running for his backpack where he'd left Squirtle's pokeball.
"Staryu, over here! Cool them off, bubble beam!" Misty ordered.
Staryu zipped over, surrounding the quarreling pokemon in a sea of bubbles. Squirtle called out in joy, while Pikachu flinched as they kept popping on its face. As Pikachu could finally see the area ahead, Brock stood above them. "Pikachu, Squirtle. I guess you two are still hungry," he said, looking through his various foods. He handed a few pieces to Squirtle, who happily accepted them. Ash's water type completely finished the food, calmed from the previous fight, and ran off while Brock looked through his sprawled out supplies. "Pikachu, you didn't eat at all, did you? I think I've got something." Brock handed the food to it.
"Pikachu." Pikachu turned its back to Brock.
"It might not be your favorite, but-" Brock began.
"I thought Pikachu already stopped acting like this," Ash said. "What's wrong with you, Pikachu?" he demanded.
"Brock isn't its trainer," Misty pointed out.
"Um, it took Brock's food before. Is that why? You want me to feed you now, Pikachu?" Ash grabbed his backpack, looking through it before he found the remnants of a vending machine snack.
The fruit-flavored item was half-eaten, speckled in dirt, and probably at least a little bit stale. "No one's gonna want to eat that," Misty said.
Pikachu sniffed the air. "Pika?" it called as Ash handed out the item. "Pikachu!" It held out its arms, accepting the nearly spoiled food before chewing it up and swallowing it down in just a few bites. It then made sure its back was turned to Brock again as it curled up, puffing its fur.
"It ate that?! Gross!" Misty commented.
"Even fresh, that kind of food can't be healthy for pokemon," Brock said.
"It's what Pikachu wanted, I guess," Ash said. "Should we get ready to go?"
The group started to pick up the campsite. "I think Pikachu's mad at you," Misty said to Brock as she helped him pack up various items.
"Why would it be mad at Brock?" Ash said.
"Did you trip over it before or something?" Misty guessed.
Brock shook his head, then went to roll up his sleeping bag. Nearby his bag was Pikachu. As he went to pick it up, the cute pokemon got out of its resting state and scurried away, glaring back at Brock briefly before it rolled itself up and rested again. There did seem to be something to Misty's speculation. Brock continued to observe Ash's first pokemon as they cleaned up and got the rest of the pokemon back in their pokeballs, seeing it avoiding him.
Even as they got on the road, Pikachu purposefully turned its back to Brock. It really did seem like the behavior of a pokemon refusing to battle, keeping their trainer out of eyesight, pretending not to hear or see the person directing them, though they obviously did. How funny, since Brock had never ordered around Pikachu at all before. So what was the purpose in this? And what was the reason? Though continuing to think about the issue, Brock decided to just act like everything was normal as they got moving toward the next town.
After checking in at the pokemon center, Brock sat in the lobby. Ash talked to the nurse in sight, while Misty left the room, going about her own tasks. On the table in the lobby, various magazines were spread out, apparently for the use of trainers or anyone else who happened by. "Oh!" Brock grabbed one with a familiar name yet unfamiliar cover. Holding it up revealed it was dated for the coming month, the latest issue. Inside were various articles about pokemon breeding, pictures of pokemon of top certified breeders and their pokemon with various tips they provided for that particular pokemon type, or even species.
Completely absorbed, Brock read through it for quite a while. It was only once he finished nearly every page that he recalled why none of this applied to him anymore. The topics were what he was interested in, things he often thought about. But from here on out, none of it would be relevant to his life at all. After all, he'd eventually have no pokemon. What should he be thinking about now?
Perhaps his future wife. Of course, most of his desired possible partners also were into pokemon. That was a part of the circles Brock ran in, after all. But it wasn't as if the whole world, or even all of Kanto were involved in pokemon in some way. There were plenty of people who weren't trainers, who went about their days without interacting with or thinking much about pokemon at all. He'd have to find places that were conducive to those people. Then maybe he'd meet a lovely lady who was his match, holding the same values as him. Of course, he also had to think about his own employment. He'd only made money before as a gym leader, and assumed he'd gain skills and pokemon to provide tips and services as a pokemon breeder. But now he'd have to find something else. Putting down the magazine, Brock supposed there was plenty else he could think about that had nothing to do with pokemon.
Going outside, Brock decided to leave the pokemon center. Staying there probably wasn't good for him at this point in time. Perhaps the laundry could be done, but he didn't quite feel like that either. Even knowing it was best not to wait until something became urgent, he decided it could wait. Walking along the path going out of the pokemon center, various trainers could be seen with their pokemon, battling, lounging, or socializing with others. Officially leaving the pokemon center grounds, still more pokemon could be seen with trainers here and there. Brock just kept going until he saw none.
A local store seemed perfect for shopping that actually did need to be done. Supplies would be needed for the solo trip back to Pewter. Misty and Ash would also be needing some supplies for going out on their own. Would they be alright? Brock wasn't sure, though he knew that they had handled themselves seemingly fine before he'd joined them. Maybe he'd made sure they and their pokemon were the safe and healthiest they could be, but his presence wasn't strictly necessary.
In the narrow entrance to the small store, a young woman stood, many bags in her hand. Brock stood waiting as she dropped them in the front, then went back inside, coming out with more. She really was stunning, tall with brown, curly hair, and perfect proportions. She wasn't wearing makeup, revealing minor flaws on her face though it only accentuated her natural beauty. "Excuse me, miss," Brock said.
"Oh no, I'm getting in the way, aren't I..." she muttered.
"It's no trouble," Brock assured. "You look like you could use some help. I'd be happy to carry some of this for you. Then maybe-"
"I really do need some help!" the woman said with a loud sigh. "I was wondering how I was going to get all this back home by myself. But wait, you look like you're carrying a lot yourself." She pointed her eyes specifically to Brock's admittedly bulky backpack.
"I can handle more, trust me," Brock said. He started picking up the bags she'd placed outside to exemplify his strength.
"You're a strong guy!" the woman said, starting down the path. "Come on, this way!"
Brock followed. "What are you doing after this? I'd like to-"
"It was really good you came along. My neighbor's watching my kid for me. I really troubled her. I've got to get this in, get him, and finish dinner before my husband gets home!"
Oh. Though she did seem young, she was still certainly an adult, and it wasn't out of the question that she already was married with a family of her own. "Sounds like you're really busy," Brock commented, trying not to let his disappointment show.
"A guy who appreciates the effort! I know a lot that think being a housewife is just easy."
"Oh, no, trust me, I'd never say that," Brock said with a laugh. "Keeping up a household effectively takes a lot of effort."
"Wow. Some girl's gonna be really lucky to find you one day," the lady said, giggling. "If you want that, I mean. Are you a trainer?"
Brock's answer caught in his throat a moment. "Yeah," he replied eventually.
"I knew it. I know most people around here, guys like you with these big backpacks are often trainers. So you're probably thinking about pokemon and not so much getting married."
"No." Brock shook his head, trying not to be too passionate in his response. He'd already made up his mind. This wasn't the kind of life he wanted, even if he happened to be a trainer for the moment and even for a while yet. "I can't wait to meet a lovely lady like yourself and settle down."
"You're just flattering me, huh?" the woman only seemed amused at his words. "Well, it's not unheard of. My husband's a trainer too!"
Ugh. Well, in Kanto, it was common, and only becoming more common as more and more pokemon appeared and more people were licensed, going out and catching their own. Would leaving Kanto be best? Brock didn't especially want to leave the region he'd grown up, his home, but maybe that was the only way to get away from this culture. "I guess he's not around much then."
"Huh?" The woman blinked. "Why not?"
"He's not traveling, training his pokemon and catching more?" Brock said. "Then entering the league and all that."
The woman shook her head. "I think he figured out before he met me that he was never going to be the very best. But there's still plenty for trainers to do, you know? Even in a small town like this." She laughed. "It's not the most reliable income, but we're fine."
So he was still here, and not just as some temporary visit? How young was their child, and was that part of the decision? As he wondered about this, the woman put the bags in front of a door and hustled, eventually coming back carrying a little boy. "Cute kid! He must be three?" Brock guessed.
"In just a month," the lady said. "This is Miles! And I'm Milly."
"Hmph." Brock smiled. They had matching names. "I'm Brock from Pewter."
"Brock from Pewter? Aren't you a gym leader?" a nearby man asked. Miles reached out his arms, and the man took him, hugging him before placing him on the ground.
"This is Dan," Milly said, giving the man a kiss on the cheek.
Brock had to smile at the sight. A little boy with his two parents, raising him and spending time with him every day. That smile fell as he recalled this had been how it was for him at that age as well. The oldest of his younger siblings was five years younger than Brock himself. When Brock was Miles's age, he had also been doted on as an only child with parents that were around every day. That reality had eventually changed drastically, as it might for this kid. "It's nice to meet you all," Brock said, trying not to let his emotions show, lest they think they were the cause. "I should get going."
"You really saved me there! Do you want to stay for dinner?" Milly asked.
"No, thanks anyway," Brock said, hoisting his backpack up as he tried not to seem too curt. "I have friends waiting for me back at the pokemon center."
"Maybe next time then," Milly said before they waved good-bye.
Back at the pokemon center, Ash and Misty had already eaten their dinner. Brock had just wasted time that afternoon, not even completing his shopping. He brought a tray to the table with his friends.
"Pi." Resting on top of the table as it usually did, Pikachu turned its back to Brock as he sat down.
Was this attitude truly because of him somehow? Brock wondered to himself as he observed Ash's pokemon. Pikachu raised its nose in the air, facing away with a solum expression. Even being so ornery, it looked cute. "How are you, Pikachu?" Brock asked, patting its head.
"Pika?!" Pikachu shook its head, bristling its fur as it jumped down, facing Brock with an arched back and bared teeth.
Brock's mouth went agape, honestly shocked at the reaction. From this, it really did seem like Pikachu's recent behavior was related to him. After all, just before this he'd seen the pokemon on the table seeming mostly content.
"Pika!" Pikachu called out warningly, then turned its back again, a wary eye pointed backward at the table.
Misty and Ash also seemed surprised, staring back and forth from the apparently quarrelling two before Ash broke the ice. "You okay, Pikachu?" he said, getting down on his hands and knees to check his pokemon.
Misty looked away, deciding to change the subject. "So, Brock, what were you up to?" she said.
"Nothing really," Brock admitted with a sigh. "I really need to get some supplies. I guess I'll go today, before it gets dark. Do you guys need anything for when I'm gone?"
"I don't need anything," Ash said, patting Pikachu, who really seemed more than fine as it still faced away from Brock.
"Are you sure? You don't want to be stuck somewhere and wish you had enough food, or something else you need," Brock said. "Maybe we should go over everything."
"I'll get some stuff later," Ash said.
"You really should listen to Brock," Misty said. "I hope we don't get attacked by spearow again without him around, or worse..."
"You don't have to come with me anymore. It's fun to travel together, but I can still take care of myself. I know what I need to get," Ash insisted. "Come on Pikachu, let's go see if we can battle."
Ash and Pikachu dashed off. Brock talked about some necessities before going off to shop with Misty. Before they arrived at the store, he saw Milly, looking just as busy, though much less cheery than she had previously. "Brock! Have you seen Miles?" she asked.
Brock shook his head, surprised at the question. If he had seen such a young boy, assumably on his own, he would have led the kid back home right away. "You don't know where he is?" he asked.
"He's missing," Milly admitted, her lip moving up. "He went outside while I was getting dinner ready... I just looked away for a minute!"
"It's okay. He's probably fine," Brock tried to reassure despite the very upsetting situation. "Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"
"Dan's bellsprout had been missing. When Miles found out he didn't find it when out today, we think he went to search for himself," Milly informed.
Pokemon again? Then again, Brock couldn't blame the boy for being worried about a missing friend. Of course, he was too young to go out alone in search. Now it was getting dark, and they were dealing with a missing young human, who was much more fragile than a missing pokemon. "We'll help find him," Brock promised.
"Who's missing?" Misty asked as Brock made his way back to the pokemon center. Brock quickly explained the situation as much as he could, then had to again to Ash when they got back, all while walking to Milly's home. There wasn't any time to waste. Once they got there, the sun was already right on the horizon. Knocking on the door gave no response, since everyone was likely out looking for the boy.
"Let's get going," Brock said. "Go, Zubat!" he sent out his pokemon, then turned to Ash. "Your flying pokemon should a big help as well. Let's get them out."
"Got it," Ash said as he took out his pokeballs. "Go, Charizard, Butterfree, Pidgeotto!" The four flying type pokemon together, Brock quickly explained what they were looking for, and they fanned out in search.
Brock then looked around the area itself for clues for where the kid could have gone. Tommy had gone missing once on Brock's watch. His brother had then been found by Geodude in the most obvious spot in their family's fenced-in yard, hiding behind the large rock he often played on. However, Miranda and Dan's yard was shared, and not fenced in at all. Brock, Misty, and Ash still searched the area thoroughly on Brock's order before finding nothing as they got back together. Asking the neighbors had likely already been done, so the next step might be to think of where a bellsprout might be, or at least where a kid might think it was.
"Oh, Brock," Dan greeted in front of their house.
"Did you find him?" Brock asked.
Dan shook his head just as Zubat zoomed back. Brock's only flying type peered to the ground, indicating it likely hadn't found any trace of Miles either. "I thought he might have gone where I trained Bellsprout last, you know, that big field by the woods near the pokemon center. Maybe that's too far away for him. No one on the grounds saw him."
"We'll go look again ourselves," Brock said. As Ash's pokemon came back, indicating similar lack of success, Brock led them toward the area Dan had described.
It was late in the day, only a dim twilight lighting the area where various trainers often battled. No one was there at the moment. "Pika?" Pikachu called, its ears perking up. "Pikachu!" it ran off across the field, everyone else following, even as Pikachu went completely outside the battle arenas. "Pika!" Pikachu called out a warning, holding out its arms. Brock, Ash, and Misty stopped behind it, Zubat flying ahead.
"It's a ravine," Misty observed. "The kid you're looking for isn't there, is he?"
Pikachu carefully walked ahead, looking down the steep drop where it had almost fallen. "Pika?" it called. "Pika, pikapi!" it called again, a sense of relief in its voice.
Zubat flew back to Brock at the same time. It looked in the same direction Pikachu did, flapping its wings faster at it called out in excitement. "There's something there, that's for sure," Brock said. He leaned down, trying to see better, though the lack of daylight combined with the cover of the woods made it impossible. Other than Pikachu's intermittent spark, there was no source of light. Brock cupped his hands to his mouth. "Hey! Miles! Are you there?" he shouted.
A human voice called back, though the exact words couldn't be made out. "I think we found him!" Misty said.
Brock nodded. "Now we just have to go back and-"
"Help! Help!" The request from the area below was now loud and clear. "I can't... I can't hold on."
"Pika?" Pikachu leaned down worryingly. "Pikachu!" The pokemon took off without a second thought, climbing down the ravine.
"Hang on Pikachu, I'm coming too," Ash said.
Brock held his friend back. "Let's hold off on that," he said, not wanting to have two kids to save. "Misty, why don't you go and see if Miles's parents or anyone else helping are around anywhere."
"Right," Misty agreed, running off.
Brock then stepped back before purposefully aiming a pokeball. "Go, Onix!" he said. "Be careful," he said, stepping close to the edge of the ravine. Looking down, Pikachu's faint light could be seen.
"Pikachu! Pikapi!" Pikachu called out happily.
"I see Pikachu. Please help!" the boy's voice rang out.
"He's not that far away, but I don't want anything to collapse," Brock said, leaning against his largest pokemon. Onix's large eyes looked back at him for direction. "Can you lean yourself down and get him? You'd need to be slow, and careful. Hesitate if you need to."
"On." Onix's deep call indicated confidence as it stared down at Pikachu's beacon.
"You can see where to go, right?" Brock said. He could also make out the form of Miles and the sought grass type pokemon down below. As long as Onix didn't move too fast, they could pick him up.
Onix gave another low call, slowly leaning down toward the source of the voice. "Pikachu!" Pikachu called, waving its arms as it sparked its cheeks. The little boy reached, moving as he now held onto the body of the large pokemon. Pikachu hopped on Onix's head and Bellsprout wrapped itself around both Onix and Miles's arm, appearing to try and steady both of them. They stayed still as Onix carried them upward, lowering its head again slowly on the safe ground. Miles started to cry only as he stepped off Onix and dropped on the ground, kneeling and hugging the bellsprout close. "Pikachu!" Pikachu called again, patting the tiny boy sympathetically.
"Miles? You found your pokemon?" Brock observed. "You really shouldn't have gone out by yourself. You could have gotten hurt. Don't put yourself in danger like that."
"Bellsprout was! I won't leave it!" Miles insisted, stopping his cries briefly. "It was scared!" he said, before he started crying again in his own relief from the fright he'd had.
"Miles..." Brock frowned as he observed the very young boy. Though frightened himself, the little boy sought to comfort the pokemon, which yes, had also likely been quite shaken up, having been missing for a while. Bellsprout attempted to stand tall as much as it could, calling out over and over to try and comfort the boy as well. Bellsprout might be tough as a pokemon, but still quite small and lean. It certainly had feelings of fright all its own. Brock suddenly felt a wave of empathy, the same he'd felt for the missing boy, this time for the small pokemon. Despite its own upset, Bellsprout still tried to comfort Miles as the young human hugged the pokemon in return. They continued to interact until Miles's parents arrived with Misty. After answering some questions, they were all finally able to go down to leave and rest.
In the morning, a bleary-eyed Misty and Ash found Brock sitting in the lobby of the pokemon center, going through some magazines. Misty sighed loudly as she took a seat next to him. "I guess it's another day here," she said.
"Probably," Brock agreed. "I don't feel ready to go out. I still need supplies, and maybe another day to rest."
"You're going back and giving away your pokemon?" Ash said.
"Pikachu." Pikachu turned its back to Brock as Ash asked the question.
Brock was unable not to snicker, still thinking the sight of the contrary pokemon was cute. He put down the magazine, shaking his head. "No. I just got frustrated, seeing the same kind of things over and over again. But I made a big mistake," Brock admitted.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"It's kind of embarrassing now that I think about it," Brock began. "I was thinking pokemon were a detriment to humans. Some kind of nice accessory that people gave up their true humanity to have. But that was wrong, or at least it's not true for everyone." Brock walked close to Ash's electric type, getting on his knees and leaning down. "I'm sorry, Pikachu," he said.
"Pi?" Pikachu turned to the speaking human before quickly turning away again.
"You noticed my mistake way before I did, didn't you?" Brock said, still not looking away. "You, and my own pokemon, all pokemon - you're not an accessory to humans. You're part of humanity at this point."
"Pikachu?" Pikachu turned back to Brock, seeing a truly regretful expression.
"I don't think pokemon are humans," Ash said.
Brock laughed. "I don't mean like that. Pokemon are pretty different from us. But we also have a lot in common. It's not just about battling, we bond with each other. Pokemon are part of the human experience - our experiences are interconnected, one collective experience by now. We can't separate from each other just by deciding to. How stupid was I to think I could get rid of any complications by getting rid of my pokemon?" Brock tried to smile as Pikachu looked back up at him, though he could hardly keep eye contact with the creature, instead pointing his head to the ground. "Getting rid of my pokemon is the same as abandoning my family and friends! Pikachu saw that before I did... Didn't you, Pikachu? I talked about them like they were nothing. But my pokemon are my family too. And Pikachu, you're not just my friend's pokemon, you're my friend, too. I can't apologize enough for acting like such a dunce." Brock lowered his head even further to the floor, groveling in front of the pokemon.
"Pika..." Despite wanting to shun this human more, tears had appeared in Pikachu's eyes against its will as Brock spoke more. So many words. Unlike when pokemon communicated, humans had to say so much even to attempt to get their feelings across, often unsuccessfully. But this time, Pikachu got it. Brock's words, demeanor, and the feelings of regret and shame he emanated were all in sync. Pikachu could also sense the older boy's feelings of love, toward pokemon in general, the same kind of affection and warmth Pikachu had always sensed from the caring human when he spoke about pokemon. Pikachu had wanted to believe that Brock had made a mistake, but its previous experience with humans pointed to the belief that humans could care about and value pokemon being the mistake. Even now, hearing Brock speak, it had trouble completely believing the message, as much as it desperately wanted to.
"Pikachu," Brock said with concern as he looked up, noting the pokemon's tearful face. "It's okay," he assured, petting the electric type's head.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried out loud then, unable to completely stop its emotional show even as it tried, with Ash and Misty leaning down to pet it in comfort. When had a human ever understood this kind of grievous error and admitted their mistake like this before? But it was happening now, and Pikachu didn't have to give up its belief in its human friend. It started to cry again just with the thought before eventually stopping itself.
Brock stood up as Pikachu calmed. "Well, time to get started with our plans to keep going," he said, looking at a map he'd spread out over all the magazines. "I'm looking forward to traveling with you guys more for a little while at least. I wonder what kind of eccentric pokemon we'll get to meet by Fuchsia?"
"Pokemon? What about all the 'eccentric' humans?" Misty asked.
"Right, we've also run across plenty of those, haven't we?" Brock said.
As Brock and Misty laughed together, Ash taking the map to observe their next path, Pikachu relaxed. It didn't have to worry about impressing these humans or even acting less than impressive to get their attention. None of them were perfect, but they were fellow beings that Pikachu could trust as friends. They were on an exciting adventure together. What fun would their next stop bring?
End notes: Beyond Brock dealing with his own stuff maybe a little less than gracefully, I hope the past two chapters clearly established a direction this story is certainly not going as we move along. Despite any problems that arise, pokemon are not disposable.
Next chapter: Jessie vs. Joy