Junior:Hey guys and welcome back to another..

Jade: Need you always do the introduction like this is a youtube video rather than a fiction series?

Junior: Why don't you use some straight words?

Jade: My lexicon is unique?

Junior:(Deadpan face) Gimme a minute. (Hunches away from Jade for a few seconds) Wait, lexicon means

Jade: Your constricted choice of words baffles me.

Junior: You are just doing this to annoy me, aren't you?

Jade: "Disclaimer:We do not own anything related to pokemon or any of the characters here."

Junior: -sigh- anyways

Without further ado, let's take off.

People and pokemon working together to achieve strength neither could dream of. Be it excellence of their moves or perfecting strength they possess or the beauty they crave into the battlefield they enter, there are all kinds of young and old alike and in between, training with their pokemon, as equals, partners, friends, companions, comrades or their own strengths of sort.

And among them is Ash ketchum, a trainer, who trains his pokemon to bring out the best out of one of pokemon's primal sides, battling. Although given the current predicament one can be swayed to believe otherwise.

"Ash, I really swear. There are nidoran male in the west of pewter. Getting one and teaching him double kick will help your other pokemon. Also, nidoking is a great pokemon. This is plainly putting your pokemon through a beating." Misty pointed out again.

"Misty! I will never hurt my pokemon. We promised to give our 100 percent for achieving our dream together and I can't bow due to one obstacle with giving my 100 percent first." Ash declared.

Misty sighed, this was the 5th version of Ash's passionate speech.

When Ash and Misty finally left that never-ending nightmare of a forest, Ash was completely excited despite what they went through. A night's sleep and Ash barged into the gym to challenge the gym leader. Misty wanted to tell him but thought better as Ash was not at all on listening mode.

Long story short, Ash lost. Forfeited if you are into the details. Misty has to applaud him for the act. Not many trainers, starting trainers at that, go down without a fight in their initial gym challenges. Only once they see the power of the likes of Sabrina do they understand that some battles are not worth seeing to the end.

Brock too was impressed and said he was okay to ignore the weekly challenge rule, a rule self-imposed among the basic class gyms to not let a particular trainer have a rematch within a week. It was supposed to stop those trainers who rush in and look back and prepare.

Yet, Ash took the long way to wait a week but still Misty isn't sure he will triumph. Well, at the very least a learning experience.

(Brock's POV)

It was just another day for him. Normally, I wouldn't mind but after the recent week's adrenaline, it is hard to stay calm and bored.

It seems as though Prof Oak had finally officiated a new set of trainers, evident by the teams of pokemon consisting the starters. Well bred and normally raised, they might not be the epitome of perfection but that is the aim. To let trainers grow as giving them the best starter out there sounds unfair.

All he had was another day and the week would end, and except for a report on trainers who won, he has nothing to do much. And that was pretty straight forward. Which he hated.

Sometimes he hated the fact that the cerulean sisters were part of basic gym class. Battles wise, they pass just above the barrier. But they more than make up with their reports. Freaking 15 pages long essays. Brock was by no means a slacker in report writing, he was a breeder of sorts after all. He could write on and on about how the trainers seem to treat their pokemon and Surge could write military long essays on their tactical strengths and all, but even at their best they can't off-shoot 7 pages while the sisters don't break a sweat in their 15 pages long essays. Most times even longer.

They write all about the potential the trainer possesses, their approach to battle and how it will evolve, their bonds and how long they will hold, how many will hold and many more. Most times League considers their report first and then his or Surge's. This wasn't purposeful mind you.

The reason? Their ability. While all gym leaders are trained in Aura to be at least Aura users, two of the gym leaders were Aura masters, two ranks below the almighty Aura guardians. The viridian gym leader, whose reports are cold and brutal, tear apart of a trainer and their weakness. The other being the sisters. For someone who acts irresponsible and weak and annoying at most times, they are surprisingly powerful Aura users or masters.

But what he is thinking the most is about the recent trainer, Ash ketchum. For starters, his starter is a Pikachu, but he is officiated by Prof Oak from the looks of his pokedex. And Oak always has enough starters on hand.

But the main course is his intelligence, or the lack of thereof. Brock had seen different types of pokemon teams from beginners and many different types of strategists but never did he believe Ash would believe that this team would succeed. And his starter too is weak to rock types, if they aren't already immune to it.

A butterfree who is a frail buy type with 4 times weakness to rock type and a pidgeotto who is completely resisted by his rock types in addition is at a great disadvantage to rock types. And he was rock type specialist, if the stones on the exterior of building didn't clue you, if the giant rock statue of him with Onix in background in front of his gym didn't light a bulb in your mind, the rock type interior of gym didn't seem enough, the "The Rock type gym- Prepared to be smashed by some rock solid pokemon" on the front of his door should have shouted to a trainer that this is rock type gym. Unless they are blind, or they are Ash it seems.

But you gotta give credit where it's due, he has a brilliant mind of a strategist and a heart of gold. Just that he is plain stupid….

"Heads up brock. The pikachu trainer." His cadet said as he dimmed the lights.

Brock stood up and took away his shirt. He didn't work all those hours in the gym to hide these great guns. The fact that it always helped him increase his Aura reach has nothing to do with this.

"Are you ready for the rematch, Ash?." Brock asked, sending an aura wave.

"Yes and this time I will show you how strong we have come together to be." Ash said, with the aura reading backing it up.

"This is an official …." The referee started his usual speech, which Brock quickly learned that tuning it out is an essential to survival. And inspect the challengers.

As he scouted out, he found out that Ash was completely different now. The headstrong and overly enthusiastic boy that gave off an aura that has no root was no more. This was the aura of someone who isn't alone, an aura that is shared. But how? Ash's Aura seems to be stronger than him but it was completely untamed. Wild. He can't forge the bonds without getting a hold on his…..

"Battle begin." Brock didn't have more time to dwell on this as the referee declared the commencement.

"Geodude come on out." Brock called upon his first pokemon.

"Pidgeotto, I chose you." Ash said.

Brock raised his eyebrow. If he did wager a guess, he must have unlocked Pidgeotto's …. But the time, it doesn't match up. Along with Pidgeotto's power.

"PIdgeotto, use gust." Ash called.

Brock noticed that this time, the gust of Pidgeotto lived up to its name as it kicked up many sand storms, pale and thin but strong nonetheless. Unless you were a geodude who has 4 times resistance to you. Brock sighed.

"Use rock polish." Brock ordered.

"Sand attack." Ash ordered.

The attack hit true and Geodude's accuracy took a hit. He was kind of frustrated. Even if Geodude's speed was in good shape, he won't be able to hit properly.

"Quick attack." Ash ordered.

Pidgeotto dashed forward, surrounded by white energy. Brock waited but when Pidgeotto was a meter away, it sped away at such speed as it hit Geodude and was out of reach in a blink. Ash had done really well at acknowledging the speed Pidgeotto possessed.

"Again." Ash ordered.

"Rock tomb around userself." He ordered.

While sand in his eyes limited his reach to far, months of training gave Geodude an edge as it succeeded, before Pidgeotto could hit too thanks to rock polish.

"Return." Ash called out of blue. "Butterfree I chose you."

Brock was stunned at first but now he is underwhelmed. When Ash took back Pidgeotto, he expected a mankey or a nidoran or even some pokemon that doesn't have as big of weakness to rock type as Butterfree.

"Butterfree sleep powder." Ash called.

"Rock throw." Brock ordered, knowing butterfree is not fast enough.

Butterfree quickly unleashed sleep powder, with no direction in a sense but in large quantity. Normally this would have caused the move to fail but Butterfree's ability, compound eyes made it easy for the attack to connect. Also, Butterfree was flapping his wings for a good measure.

Geodude was fast asleep as only one of his rocks connected.

"Harden." Ash called.

Butterfree started hardening, Brock waited patiently. Ash is trying to set up his pokemon to be strong enough to withstand his next pokemon Onix maybe. Brock smiled, generally he would have used a rhyhorn just for diversity sake but he wanted to know how Ash would fare against Onix.

Ash didn't order anything for the next three turns as Butterfree hardened for a total of 4 times. But Geodude was up and started stirring.

"Confusion now." Ash ordered.

Just as Geodude came to his senses, he was smashed into the ground by the confusion. That was a really strong confusion. Ash was sure to have KOed his geodude but he wanted to set up first it seems.

But the slight waves of surprise Brock heard in the echo from his Aura sense seemed to indicate otherwise.

"Thanks, Geodude. Onix, come out." Brock next called his ace.

"Butterfree return. Go pidgeotto." Ash substituted.

Brock was sure Ash was using Pidgeotto to scout out his pokemon that brought in Butterfree after the pokemon was set-up at a disadvantage.

"Onix use rock tomb." Brock called.

"Quick attack." Ash countered.

Pidgeotto's speed boost from quick attack helped it overcome all of the rocks on its path as it was just a few feet left of Onix. Pidgeotto was well trained, quick attack's speed boost makes pokemon lose their great reflexes in exchange for their speed.

"Now, gust." Ash ordered as his Aura flared up highly. It seemed Pidgeotto was here to not just set up, but to damage too.

Using its impulse from quick attack, Pidgeotto slashed his right wing downward as it started to rotate. The air that was gaining at the ends of its wing was pushed forward spirally towards Onix from the impulse, forming an air cutter of sorts.

The air cutter hit onix right near his chin, the blow strong enough to make onix pull back his head. But that was all Ash wanted as he smiled.

Pidgeotto, now spinning due to earlier slash, had this brought down his second wing stronger, creating another air cutter of sorts. And it hit the exposed Onix. Who grunted, which impressed Brock. Onix groaned only when something hit hard.

Pidgeotto may not master his egg move yet, but it was very near to mastering it. It only needs to learn wing attack first. And Ash was slightly panicking, given that Onix just merely grunted from such a strong blow.

"Onix use rock throw." Brock called.

It seems Ash didn't prepare for Onix to attack so quickly. With Pidgeotto still stabilizing himself from the spin he did to not crash into ground, Rock throw was sure to connect.

"Pidgeotto." Ash called from the side, worry in his voice evident.

The avian slowly got up. He was impressed by the stamina of Pidgeotto, to withstand a rock throw from Onix was no small feat.

"Can you still battle Pidgeotto?" Ash asked and the avian took to the air and cried out its name.

"Onix, use bind." Brock ordered.

"Sand attack" Ash countered when Onix was near.

Brock facepalmed at the fact that he got into the battle that he forgot about this one. But it was really great seeing a trainer use a pokemon's true strength to battle.

"Pidgeotto is unable to battle. Challenger, bring out your next pokemon." The referee called after Onix ended the attack.

"Thanks Pidgeotto, you did your work the best." Ash said, returning Pidgeotto. "Butterfree come out."

"Onix, use rock throw, central field." Brock called.

Onix roared as it swiped its tail along the ground, kicking up multiple rock projectiles along the central path of the battlefield. The attack was widespread so in order to cover up for the blind spots, Onix released another wave of rocks. Butterfree will not be able to escape this attack.

"Use confusion on the rock and send it back." Ash called, unless you were Ash's pokemon it seems.

Butterfree concentrated his mental prowess and stood strong, then pushed back a rock that was aimed at it at faster speed. The turned back rock collided with all the rocks that were supposed to attack Butterfree, causing a large amount of debris to fall off, but thanks to heightened defenses, Butterfree holded strong.

"Now use poison powder." Ash called.

Butterfree released another potent wave of purple colored spores on Onix, this time propelled by a small gust if Brock would have taken a guess.

It seems as if Ash is trying to wear Onix down, which is a considerably good strategy since Onix is a staller and has high speed to evade most hits. But Butterfree's Compound eyes were really a problem.

"Rock throw" Brock ordered. If he wasn't into the battle, Brock would have ordered Screech first, but he is a rock type gym leader.

"String shot." Ash called.

Butterfree shot the string shot faster than Onix, the poison helping. Yet, Butterfree wasn't spared from rocks. Butterfree was barely standing, if not for the harden. But Brock was occupied by something else.

Brock thoroughly scouted Ash's Aura. He has mastered the art of understanding and analyzing a given aura, the essential to call yourself an Aura user. Ash's Aura was mingling with his Pokemon, but not enough. Not enough to justify Butterfree's string shot. From how Butterfree used the spore moves, Brock will bet that Butterfree still remembers the technique of Gust. This is bcoz without the technique to channel the Aura for a real gust, Butterfree's wing flapping can produce a gentle breeze if they are aloft.

Granted that to teach a pokemon more than four moves, one needs to be an Aura spector at least. Binding your aura with your bond can help pokemon use more than four Aura techniques or something(You really can't blame him for reading that large and boring book on how pokemon use their Aura to perform their moves). While Ash's aura is strong enough to be a spector, it isn't tamed. Effectively his power is less than an Aura user.

But he can wonder about this later, if he could get a call with Daisy or Violet. Lily obviously hates him for hitting on her but he just complimented her beauty and what doesn't he have? Good abs? Better ….. Better not to dwell on that.

"Onix, the rocks on your left. Rock throw." Brock ordered.

The rock tombs left by Geodude were swept away by Onix's tail with a mighty swing and the tombs crumbled to small rocks. Onix started his rock throw attack faster this time since the crumbled mess from previous sweep made it easier. But the Poison is still making this hard.

"Confusion." Ash called.

Butterfree strained to use confusion on Onix, but ultimately passed out in the middle of the attack due to attack.

"I am very sorry that you had to battle till the end Butterfree but you did splendidly out there." Ash said.

Brock smiled at Ash's compassion but when Onix roared at his side, he knew he didn't have too much time to stall like before, Poison will end this match.

"It's time buddy, let's do this." Ash said with his Pikachu posed in front of him.

Brock thought Ash might have something. A mankey, a nidoran hell he would love that annoying Rattata too but of all the things Pikachu isn't what he wanted. This was gonna be his last gym battle seeing the sun set and he had to close the gym for weekends due to power shift and a rock type leader to such a team in his last battle didn't exactly scream dedication to post. This seems like an atrocity to him.

"Pikachu growl." Ash called.

Brock was sure Ash was trying to wear him down at any cost, the poison being the ending blow. Butterfree truly was the ace of the match.

"Onix screech." Brock countered, smiling when he felt Ash's aura falter for a second.

He would lose no matter what, the growl's reduced attack, Poison's reduced defense and health degradation and string shot's reduced speed combined with exhaustion and sand attack reducing accuracy means winning this is nigh impossible. But that didn't mean he couldn't try.

"Thunderwave" Ash called.

Pikachu sparked his cheeks and unleashed a thunderwave of Onix that not only stopped Onix but was able to inflict paralysis for a slight second.

Brock smiled. Ash must have ordered the move since it was really hard on Pikachu but the secondary paralysis can be a blessing in disguise. While the Poison didn't stop, paralysis might break through sometimes and could break down the dangerous build-up of poison. Not the best gamble but still his last battle cannot end like this.

"Rock tomb, right field." Brock called. This tactic is still unused and Brock never said he would go easy.

"Dodge it using quick attack." Ash ordered.

Normally, rock tomb wouldn't connect and Pikachu would be fine. Emphasis on normally. Pikachu was advancing from the right side of the field, the debris in the center might topple his momentum. So, Onix contorted its body to launch multiple rocks horizontally and obliquely at Pikachu who can't escape.

"Quick attack, onto the incoming ones." Ash ordered, his Aura completely flared up. Ash was going all out with his starter.

PIkachu gathered white energy around him and crouched on four legs and waited until the rock was near before he jumped on it.

And from there on, Pikachu climbed onto all the rocks that came his way. Due to his small size and speed Pikachu had hoped to get out of the rock tomb well.

Brock could feel the bond between Ash and Pikachu get stronger, more tamed and organized. But Brock still thought it was foolish to use quick attack.

"Bind" he called.

Onix wrapped forward, surprising Ash with his speed and held onto Pikachu in a bind. But when the paralysis took temporary hold of Onix, Ash smiled even though Onix was not unbinding.

"Thundershock" Ash called.

This time, the trust Ash had in his Pikachu, the trust Pikachu had, they mingled. That completed the bond between both of them. It channeled Ash's great Aura power into Pikachu, who was storing all his electrical charge for this attack and unleashed the thundershock at close range.

The paralysis sparks gave Pikachu's attack a leeway into Onix's Aura system. Without the aura boost from his trainer, Onix might have survived but now there was no chance.

And when the attack ended, combined with the Poison effect, Onix collapsed.

"Onix is unable to battle. Challenger Ash won the watch." His referee declared as Brock searched for a poison antidote for Onix.

"Thanks for your help." Brock said as Onix smiled and took the antidote.

"Ash Ketchum, you have given me a battle I will never forget so easily. And as a proof of your victory, I present to you the boulder badge." Brock said, handing the badge.

Ash and his pokemon cried out cheerfully as they striked their victory pose.

"Are you disappointed son?" The referee asked as Ash went to show the badge to Misty.

"I should be right?" Brock turned towards his 'referee' and smiled.

"Every gym leader loves to see trainers and pokemon work together to bring out the best of them. But you like seeing them utilize their true raw power and refine it to be their real strength. And Ash has certainly done that." The referee said.

"You are correct, father. He used Pidgeotto's speed and stamina to withstand my rock types, and attacked at the right moment. He set up Butterfree's defense to be high enough to endure mine. And made splendid use of Butterfree's ability and special attack power on a weak special defender like rock types. And he did the same with Pikachu, using its speed to let me fall to my slow defeat through Victory. But what I found most interesting is their Aura bond." Brock said as Ash and Misty left the gym.

"Interesting bond indeed." Referee said as he removed his hat and beard.

"You know about it. Care to explain?" Brock asked.

"Learn it. It will help you, just like it did to mine."

"Hey Brock the gym is closed. You know what it means." One of Brock's cadets came forward with a wine bottle in hand.

"FAREWELL TO OUR LITTLE GYM LEADER HERE" the other cadets shouted.

Brock just shook his head and smiled. Well, tonight will be splendid at least.

Junior: Wow, you know you can help more right?

Jade: Do I?

Junior: -sigh- is the end scene important. It is part of a story most readers won't understand.

Jade: So what? This is a chapter from that story, cutting some parts didn't sit right with me.

Junior: They don't understand the lore..

Jade: Ohhh, then my excellent readers, we do not encourage underage drinking. In any form at all. Actually, I don't encourage drinking at any age, the headache the next day isn't worth it.

Junior: We actually have a headcanon that time flies differently in the Pokemon universe. We are thinking a year will have 550 to 600 days. Thus, effectively 10 years there means 15 to 16 here. And another fact is human evolution alongside Pokemon.

Jade: Survival of fittest. If people aren't resistant enough to pokemon attacks they will perish easily. So most humans here develop and mature slowly to compensate for their internal toughness.

Junior: Anyways, enough about our headcanon. What do you guys think of this story? Jade has put some valuable input of his into this.

Jade: It would be fantastic if you guys favorite this chapter, that is if you liked it. And review how you feel about the chapter. Also, if you have battle requests, PM junior. Until next time,

-Jade & Junior.