Episode 5: The Softest Rocks are the Hardest
Episode 5
"Well, a new challenger! Brock just got back from his last one, wow what a whirlwind that kid was!" Said a man just inside the door, standing in front of Red.
"Yeah yeah, now lemme in."
"Alright, now just take this, you might be able to use it if your Pokemon ge t hurt."
The man handed Red a bottle of fresh water, "Uhh Thanks Mr-?"
"Oh nobody knows my name," He said with a smile, "People just call me Jim Gai."
"Oh, well, thanks!" Red said, putting the wate rin his backpack and walking into the Gym.
"Good luck! Brock uses Rock-type Pokemon, fire-type and normal type moves wont do much good, but you didn't hear it from me, but water, grass, fighting and steel type moves nice and solid against Brock's Rocks."
Red and Pikachu meandred into Brock's gym, it was outfitted with large rocks on all sides, with a hard, gritty sanded floor.
"Yo!" Yelled Brock from across the Gym.
"Nice to see you again, you ready for a solid battle?"
"Always! And nice to see you too!"
A referee came out of the side of the gym.
"This gym battle will be a two-on-two match, only the challenger may use a healing item or make a substitution, no time limit, begin!"
"Go, Geodude!" Brock sent out a small boulder with arms, it floated in place god-only-knows-how.
"Alright, go for it Pikachu!" Pikachu ran onto the field.
"Hope you know what you're doing, Geodude's not just Rock-type, it's Ground Type too."
Red smirked, "We'll see if that matters."
Brock returned the smirk, "Geodude, Tackle!" Geodude tossed its hard body at Pikachu, striking it hard.
Red gauged Geodude's power, checking on Pikachu, who had landed on its feet.
"Ready buddy?"
"Pika!" Pikachu replied, crackling electricity from its cheeks.
"Alright, just do what we talked about in the Pokemon Center!"
Brock sent another Tackle order, Geodude once again connected with Pikachu, hard, sending it reeling... just as Red had planned."
"Pikachu, use the wall!"
As Pikachu hit the wall, it stretched its tiny legs and shoved off it, Tackling Geodude at high speed.
"Geo!" It cried, rolling further than it had sent Pikachu.
"Hey, that was creative!" Brock smiled across the gym.
"Thanks, can't go up against someone stronger than you without pushung a few rules."
Red grinned and adjusted the brim of his hat.
"Alright, Geodude, Tackle Pikachu!"
Geodude threw itself at Pikachu again, though this time Pikachu was prepared, jumping off of Geodude's head and landing Behind it.
"Now Pikachu, Tackle!"
Pikachu threw itself at Geodude again, from behind.
"Geodude is no longer able to battle!" Called the ref as Geodude fainted.
"Now that's power! Not many challengers get past Geodude, you have talent kid!"
"Thanks, from you that;'s a compliment Brock!"
"Don't get too comfortable, because here comes my trump card!"
Brock tossed his Pokeball into the air, revealing the Onix that had helped him fend off Team Rocket.
"BRRRONX!" Roared the Onix, Pikachu grew determined, looking up at it.
"Alright Pikachu, use Tackle!"
Pikachu attacked Onix, though it seemed like it didn't, as Onix barely Recoiled.
"Uh oh." Red hadn't counted on Onix' defense being so high... Time to rethink.
"Onix! Bind!"
Onix obeyed, constricting Pikachu in its tail.
"Pikachu! Hang on!"
"Piiika..." Pkachu groaned, fighting the constricting pressure around him.
Red watched Pikachu in this pain... And knew he couldn't win this fight...
A white towel was thrown onto the field on Red's side.
"The Challenger has forfeited the match! The Gym Leader wins!"
Brock returned Onix to its Pokeball, and walked over to Red.
"That was a nice match, that Pikachu's really something, I expect a rematch soon."
Red smiled weakly as Pikachu hobbled up onto his shoulder and into his backpack, breathing hard and trying to rest.
"Yeah, I will."
Red sat again in the Pokemon Center, Pikachu eating a bowl of Pokemon Food next to him. He sat there, his chin in his hands, thinking deeply about what went wrong... And the only problem he saw was the type disadvantage... He began to think about what he was doing, was he really cut out to be a trainer? Sure he had a few victories, but... Was it worth all of the losses? It wouldn't be fair to his Pokemon if he were to keep going and let them lose so often...
"Pika?" Pikachu put its paws on Red's jean-covered leg.
"Hm? Oh, I'm okay Pikachu..."
"Pika.. Pi pikachu!"
Red was a bit startled, but from Pikachu's tone he could tell it was trying to cheer him up...
"Excuse me young man..."
Red glanced up and saw an older man, likely in his forties, gray hair and slightly age-lined skin, he was thin, though he also seemed to have a strong build for his age.
"Uh, yeah?"
"I watched your gym battle, and I think I may be able to help."
Red's eyes lit up, "You can? How?"
"Meet me behind the Pewter City Gym tonight, once the sun goes down."
Red nodded his head as the man left.
Exiting the Pokemon center, Red looked up and saw the sun... Sighing as he realized it was only early afternoon.
"Alright... We have a few hours to kill, c'mon Pikachu, lets have a look around town."
Pewter City wasn't nearly as big as Viridian, the houses and buildings seemed smaller, though considering this town was a mining town way back when, it should have such a rugged feel.
After looking around a bit, Red came across one particular house that happened to be right next to the Pokemon gym... Where something smelled REALLY good.
The scent caught Pikachu and Red's attention, drawing them to it, imagine their surprise when they looked in on the window behind a tree and saw that the smell was coming from a pot in a kitchen, stirred by Brock.
"Is it done yet?"
Red heard a very young voice from inside, and a small hand clambering up Brock's leg.
"Almost guys, just a few minutes." Brock smiled, gathering a few bowls.
A slightly older voice piped up too, "Hey Brock... Is it okay if I don't go to school tomorrow?"
Brock raised an eyebrow, "Forrest, you love school, are ya sick little brother?"
"No... I just don't wanna."
Brock frowned and handed three other younger kids their dinner and walked his little brother outside... Under the tree Red and Pikachu were hiding in.
"Alright kiddo, what's the matter?" Brock knelt down and asked his little brother, who looked about 7 or 9 years old.
"Its just... We have this stupid project tomorrow."
"And what is that?"
"We're supposed to talk about what our mom and dad do..."
Brock's expression softened further.
"Oh.."
"Yeah."
"Well what's wrong with that?"
Red listened intently, he remembered the Team Rocket members talking about a gym leader without parents... It was Brock.
"Brock, I can't! Dad's gone, and mom is..." Forrest looked
"Hey, they're not your ONLY family ya know."
"Hm?"
"You got Yolanda, Salvadore, Tommy, Cindy, Suzie, Timmy, Billy and Tilly... Then there's me."
Forrest looked down, then gave his brother a hug, which was returned by Brock.
"Brock, when's Dad coming back?"
Brock held Forrest by his shoulders and looked into his eyes, "I don't know buddy... But what I do know is that we need to be tough, and someday dad will come back."
"Okay..."
Brock carried his little brother inside as Red and Pikachu shared glances of 'I don't know what to think'.
As soon as he knew the coast was clear, Red climbed down off the tree and he and Pikachu continued on their way, it was sunset and they had an old man to meet.
Behind the gym, Red met up with the man that he had run into earlier, who was holding a small machine, it looked like a CD player, but rather than a jack for headphones was a Suction cup on the end of a long cord.
"Here, take this, and attach the Cup to Pikachu's head."
"Uh sure... What's it gonna do?"
"Do you know of the Steel-type?"
"Not much but..." A light lit in Red's head, "Wait, this is a-?"
"A TMT, or Technical Machine Teacher. It will teach a pokemon a move via data disc, like this one..." The old man lifted a grey disc and inserted it into the TMT.
"What's it gonna-?" Red started to ask, when suddenly a jolt of gray lightning shot through the cord into Pikachu's mind, the Pokemon flinched, but its face didn't look in pain, moreso... Thoughtful."
"Pikachu?" Red asked, checking to see if his Pokemon was alright.
The cup fell off of Pikachu as the cord's grey glow dissipated, the disc being ejected.
"What move did Pikachu learn?"
The Old man took the disc from the ejector and snapped it."Iron Tail, a powerful and obscure steel-type move I have received on my travels.
"Iron Tail huh?"
"Yes, and Steel-type moves are very effective on Rock-type Pokemon like Brock's. You should be able to surprise Brock tomorrow."
"Yeah?" Red smiled, then frowned. "But, why'd you break the disc? What if we could use it again?"
"That's the thing about Technical machines, they can teach a move only once, after that, they're useless..."
"Oh.." Red looked at Pikachu, which was examining its tail, which it was moving around, slamming it on the ground.
"Then why would you use it on-?" Red attempted to question him, but he was gone, leaving his TMT with Red.
"Guess he won't mind if we keep this huh?"
"Pika!"
WHO'S THAT POKEMON?
This Pokemon Flies in huge groups, attacking travelers savagely. Its tiny wings make other Pokemon underestimate its fierce appearance.
(AN: ALL WTP segments are going to be Kanto Pokemon ONLY until the story moves onto the next region. So... NO. It isn't any pokemon beyond Mew!... Thank you :))
The next morning, Red and Pikachu stood once again at the gym.
"Time for round two Pikachu, you ready?" Red asked the resolute yellow mouse standing at his side, who gave him a thumbs up and a confident squeak.
"Hey, you! You came back for a rematch!" Jim Gai said to Red, welcoming him back.
"Is this new?" Asked Red, tilting his head.
"Oh it's pretty uncommon, most Trainers don't have the guts to rechallenge Brock within a day, you got some gumption kiddo."
"I suppose, catch ya later with my badge Jim!"
"I look forward to it!"
"Hey! You came back!"
"Yeah, I think it's time for a rematch!"
"Hm." Brock smiled, tossing out Geodude.
The second battle commenced, Pikachu and Geodude on either side of the dark, rocky gym.
"Pikachu, Tackle!"
"PikA!" Pikachu launched itself at Geodude right away, somehow stronger than it had yesterday.
"Geodude! Don't let Pikachu near you!"
Geodude used its arms to launch over Pikachu, directly over it.
"Pikachu, Tackle it backwards!"
Pikachu skidded and backflip-tackled Geodude, knocking it off its jump trajectory and sending it reeling out of control to the ground.
"Geodude, Defense curl!"
The Rock-type obeyed and held its arms in close to its body, hitting the ground and rolling.
Red smiled and gave his next command.
"Pikachu, Tackled Geodude against that Rock!"
Pikachu growled strongly and launched its body in a straight-tackle to the curled-up Geodude, sending them both into the granite, chipping a huge dent into the boulder.
Both of them landed, Geodude upside-down while Pikachu on its feet.
"Geodude, Tackle!"
Geodude launched itself at Pikachu, its heavy body sure to land a direct hit on the electric-type.
"Pikachu, Batter up IRON TAIL!"
Pikachu's tail suddenly glowed with a starlike shine, and once the glow was gone, its sheen seemed silver.
"PikA!" Pikachu knocked Geodude way like a baseball against a bat, sending into the wall for a crushing blow.
"Geodude is unable to battle!" The referee called while the stunned Brock returned his Pokemon.
"Whoa, nice move choice Red! You'll have to tell me how you taught it to Pikachu once we're done here!"
"For sure!" Red grinned and thumbed his nose, Pikachu did as well.
"This isn't over yet, Go ONIX!"
Brock tossed Onix out once again, the massive Rock-snake Pokemon looming over Pikachu, though no longer as intimidating to Pikachu as it was.
"Alright Pikachu, ready?"
"Pika."
"Onix! Bind!"
"Not this time! Pikachu, don't let it bind you!"
A well-timed jump from Pikachu managed to dodge Onix, allowing the small pokemon to climb up the Rocksnake's back.
"Now Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Pikachu's Iron Tail connected with Onix' forehead, a supereffective and critical hit.
Onix roared in Pain as Pikachu landed on the ground, its tail returning to yellow color.
"Onix! Shake it off!" Onix glared at the yellow mouse, whose cheeks were lit with electricity and a confident smirk.
"Alright, now use slam!"
"Pikachu, watch yourself!"
Pikachu narrowly dodged Onix' tail and once again got on Onix' body.
"Onix, get Pikachu off you!"
Onix saw Pikachu, swung its tail and threw it against the wall. A painful squeak came from Pikachu's mouth as it struck the wall.
"Pikachu! You okay buddy?"
"Now Onix, headbutt!"
"Pikachu!"
As Onix lunged in for the headbutt that would end the match, dust clouded everyone's vision. As it cleared, nobody could believe their eyes.
Pikachu was straining and holding its Iron Tail against Onix' forehead, teeth gritted as Onix kept trying to push forward and crush it.
"No way! No way!" Brock said, his eyes widening, (Well, sort of...)
"Pi..Ka...CHU!" Pikachu broke Onix' connection and slammed Onix in the head again, sending it into the dirt and gym wall from the force it was already exerting.
"Onix is unable to battle, the winner is Red from Pallet Town!"
"ALRIGHT! WE DID IT!" Red yelled excitedly, running out onto the field and hugging Pikachu, who returned the gesture.
Brock smiled and shook his head while returning his pokemon.
"I wasn't wrong Red, you have some serious skill, I think you can go as far as you want."
"Thanks Brock..." Red smiled as Brock handed him the gray Boulder Badge.
"I think you can go as far as you want as well."
Red lifted his gaze from the badge in his hand to Brock, who now had someone behind him, with a hand on his shoulder. It was the old man that had helped Red earlier.
"Dad?"
Brock turned around and saw the old man, and knew immediately who he was.
"Dad! You came back! But what about-?"
"He's been back for a while, but he was too afraid to show." Red inferred, finishing Brock's sentence for him.
Brock's father nodded, it was only now that Red saw the family resemblance and wondered how he could have missed it.
"Yes... I never managed to get past Cerulean city, I was too embarrassed to come back and face you all... I felt I failed you."
"Dad... You could never fail me." Brock said, hugging his father.
"Thank you Red, for helping me remember that no matter if I fail, I can continue, and always come back."
"You're welcome." Red smiled.
An hour or so later, Red, Brock and Flint stood at the door of Brock's house.
"What do I say?" Asked Flint, turning to his teenaged son.
"Just walk in, they'll do the rest."
Red and Pikachu nodded, encouraging Flint.
The father and son walked into their house, it was quiet as Red listened... Then he heard it, "DADDY!" Yelled the 'Brocklings' moments after Flint walked in.
Red looked at Pikachu and smiled, "I think they'll be fine."
Red turned to leave, toward Diglett cave where he knew was the shortest route to Cerulean City from Pewter.
"Hey Red!"
The boy turned to see Brock in a backpack, running up to him, "Hey, my dad's gonna take over as Gym Leader here, and I was wondering... Mind if I travel with you?"
Red raised his eyebrows, "Really? Ya wanna travel with me?"
"Well yeah, I've always wanted to leave home, and I figured now's as good a time as any."
Red was silent for a moment, then smiled and agreed to let Brock travel with him, after all, what better companion in a cave than a Rock-Type Pokemon Expert?
So the two set off, joking as guys often do, looking forward to the adventures that awaited them.
TO BE CONTINUED...
So far my favorite chapter to write so far! So, whadaya think? Who else loves the heck out of Brock? Write in, comment and review! What would you like to see next episode? What was your favorite episode so far? Got a favorite Pokemon?
Write in!
Now, here's a challenge for ya: If you can name three of my ten favorite pokemon, then you get a major shout out on next week's mailbag!
This week's mailbag:
HybridTailedFox Writes: Heheh, looking much better than the original... Love it...
Approved! Continue please.
My Reply:
Thank you sir, that was my goal, and I don't think I'll ever quit this one!
Epic Jac Writes:
Actually, the 1st Pokemon I thought was worth catching was Rattata.
...What? Ratticates are bosses. Just look at Blue over there!
Anyway, like most, I agree. The anime is not Pokemon's strong suit. Kanto was good. Johto was too. Hoenn was...acceptable. After that, it became painful. Sinnoh's only redeeming quality was Paul's personality and different ideals, but it feels like they copy and pasted it on Trip. -_-
I like this story and the battle scenes so far are amusing. At first, I thought 'T' was a bit much for the story...then I read the part with the Rocket killing his dad. That was hardcore. XD
My Reply:
Pfft, Pidgey all the way! At least it could be more than an HM slave! (Haha, XD, just kidding, Rattata wasn't bad, I jsut always liked Pidgeot more than Raticate.)
... Don't get too attached to Blue's Raticate...
But anyway, yeah, I completely agree with your thoughts on the show... Granted I couldn't stand Paul... But at least he was different.
And thank you! I've been wondering about the Battle scenes and how truly interesting they are... Or not.
And yeah, rated it T for a reason, gonna explore some darker themes rather than the anime's 'kids are stupid' thinking.
I mean... GEEZ. I watch the show and it feels like they're constantly talking down to their audience, who is supposedly 8-12 year olds. It sounds like they're talking to toddlers!
Thanks for writing dude.
Well that's it for this episode, tune in next time, for a... BIG surprise. XD
Gotta catch 'em All!
-The Crobatman