A/N: Ah, I was actually kinda disappointed by the lack of reviews on the previous chapter. Last chapter was the most popular one so far, and only four reviews… was kinda disappointing, yeah. To those who did review, thank you so much! And to all those others, thank you very much for reading, and don't be afraid to leave me a review, I don't bite ;) And I truly do appreciate every review, follow, favorite and read I get, so again, thank you everyone!

Also, I have more information on the update(s) in November, but let's first read the next chapter! :D

To Guest: I'm very glad you liked it so much! Thank you for reviewing, and I hope you continue to enjoy it :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the picture used as cover.

Leave It To Brocko

Chapter 20

Of course I hadn't done such a cowardly thing like running away, but instead had done the sensible and mature thing. With quick accuracy and finesse that I had mastered over the years I had managed to calm down Gary and Leaf, break up the fight between the Pokémon and shut Ash up.

Then, to prevent the situation from going down the same road again, I had made everyone introduce themselves, before leading them to the Pokémon Center. Dawn and Paul had come along as well, for convenience's sake.

At the Pokémon Center, the beautiful Nurse Joy had been as helpful as ever, and had gotten us several rooms to rest. Not only that, she had also checked our Pokémon for any injuries! Arceus, she was such a wonderful woman.

The girls had claimed the showers first and had disappeared in the bathrooms, relieved to be able to finally scrub off all the dust and dirt from the travelling. They would take a while, I knew from experience. Admittedly, Misty had never made much of a problem of being dirty, Dawn had been quite the opposite. I didn't know Leaf well enough to judge, but I couldn't blame them for wanting to shower anyway.

Man, was I looking forward to a hot shower.

Ash, Gary and Paul had plopped down on the sofas in the common area of the Center – or well, Ash and Gary had plopped down, Paul had sat down with dignity.

Just now Ash and Gary had struck up a fairly civil conversation about Pokémon while enjoying lunch, and Paul was looking on semi-interested. Which left me to my own devices.

Perfect.

That wasn't sarcasm, by the way. No matter how tired I was, or how much I longed for that hot shower, I knew my priorities. Calling my fami- wait, what was that?

Right, my growling stomach. So… First lunch, then calling my family.

And after that, I had to call May. Or Max, to let them know we would be later than planned. Besides our already long detour to Unova, we also still had the boat ride and the last bit by foot to go, which would definitely cost a week.

As I was heartily devouring my lunch, the screen of the videophone flickered to life, and the elated face of my brother Timmy appeared. "Brock!"

"Hey Timmy." I gave him a small wave, and I found myself grinning. The others – minus the ones that were on a journey as well – quickly appeared on the screen as well, pushing and pulling at each other to get a proper view of me. And then each of them launched in a detailed report about themselves, how much they missed me and how Dad was faring.

With a grin, I sat back, and enjoyed the slightly overbearing but nonetheless loving company of my family.

After finishing up my call with Forrest – the others had told me where he had been staying, and I had been lucky enough to catch him at a Pokémon Center – I stood up for a bit to stretch my legs. My siblings tended to be long-winded and my legs had almost fallen asleep.

When I walked back in the common area of the Center, I saw to my surprise that the three boys had been replaced with the three girls. Wow... My siblings could talk so much that the girls – even Dawn – had managed to shower.

Rather impressive.

Leaf, Misty and Dawn seemed to be getting on well enough. Dawn was chattering as usual, though Leaf admittedly looked more interested than Misty, but Misty busied herself by playing with Dawn's Piplup.

Seeing that the girls were entertaining themselves well, I grabbed something to drink to wet my dry throat, and then turned back to the videophone room.

I still had one more call to make, after all.

Taking another gulp of the water, I patiently waited for someone to pick up. I did hope it would be either May or Max, though I guess it didn't really matter. After all, visiting some old friends was a rather innocent excuse – Norman and Caroline didn't need to know that I was going to make my friend use their daughter as bait to make another girl jealous.

I'm horrible person, if you put it like that.

No matter. It was for the greater good. The preservation of my sanity, namely.

"Hello, this is- Brock!" May's cheery voice got even cheerier. "It's great to see you! And what a surprise too!"

I grinned. Despite my plans, I was of course still genuinely happy to see my friend. "Hello May, long time no see."

"It's so nice to see you again! We haven't talked in way too long," she said, sitting down comfortably, as if preparing for a long conversation.

"Yeah, that's true," I agreed. "So I'm sorry to say that our arrival in Hoenn will be delayed for-"

"Arrival in Hoenn?" May interrupted me, her eyes wide but a huge grin forming on her face. "You're coming to Hoenn?!"

"Yeah, well, didn't Max tell you...?" I trailed off, seeing the annoyance grow on her face.

"Max!" May bellowed. "Why didn't you tell me Brock was coming over?!"

"Huh? I can't hear you!" Max's voice was vaguely heard through the videophone. A moment later I could see his legs appear in the view of the videophone. "Now, what was so important that you had to yell- oh, hey Brock..." he trailed off when he finally noticed me, giving me a quick wave.

I grinned back. "Sorry Max, change of plans. Team Rocket tried to steal our Pokémon again-" an exasperated groan came from the siblings "-and rerouted us to Unova-"

"Unova? How the heck did they manage that?" May's voice was full of disbelief.

"Well, we took a plane and-"

"And you didn't notice the flight was taking way longer than a flight to Hoenn would?" Max interrupted, in his I-can't-believe-you-didn't manner that made me feel stupid. Because we had indeed not noticed – at least, not until it had been way too late.

"Er..." I quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, we're now in Johto-"

"Why would you be in Johto?" May interrupted again.

"If you'd just let me finish-"

"Oh right, sorry Brock." She grinned sheepishly.

"Anyway… the Hoennish flight personnel was striking, so we were forced to take a plane to Johto and then take the boat from here to Hoenn."

There, finally finished my sentence.

"Okay, and so why didn't you tell me, Max?" May asked her brother, indignantly.

"I wanted it to be a surprise!" he said. "I knew you hadn't seen Ash and Brock in a while, I mean, I haven't-"

"Ash is coming too?" May interrupted, her eyes shining.

"Yup," I answered. "And Misty too, you remember her, right?"

When May nodded, I continued. "Yeah, well, and perhaps Gary – an old rival of Ash – and his friend Leaf too, and maybe even Dawn – you remember her too, right? – and Ash's rival from Sinnoh, Paul."

"All of them?" Max asked, as May remarked, "That's quite a group you've gathered."

"It wasn't intentional, believe me," I muttered under my breath, before saying louder. "And I don't know actually..."

I truly didn't know. Maybe Dawn and Paul would keep travelling with us, maybe not. After all, Paul had undoubtedly his own plans for going to Hoenn, and Dawn would just follow him. As for Gary and Leaf... I didn't know how much longer they would stick with us. "Dawn and Paul probably not, but..." I shrugged helplessly. "I don't know for sure."

"Well, it's not a problem anyway," May decided with finality. "Mom and Dad won't mind, I'm sure."

I hadn't thought about that yet, but I was relieved that it wouldn't be a problem. I hadn't really expected it to be, but it was nice to hear it confirmed anyway.

"Mmm... okay..." May continued with a thoughtful look on her face. "Where will you be arriving? The boat ride at least takes two days, right?"

"Slateport City, and yeah, probably a bit longer…"

"Hm-mm," she muttered to herself, counting on her fingers. Then her face brightened. "That's perfect!"

"What- oh right," Max cut off his question as he realized what his sister was talking about. A mischievous look appeared on his face. "You really want to see Drew, don'tcha?"

"That's not true!" May flushed slightly, though from embarrassment or anger wasn't clear. "I just want to go to that Contest, you know that! Whether Drew will be there or not doesn't matter, he's just my rival, okay?"

She was denying it rather fervently though, for Drew being 'just a rival.'

"I'm missing something," I interrupted their squabble, interested to hear what was going on with Drew. Not only would I be glad if May and Drew were finally getting it on – Arceus knew the boy had been crushing on her for long enough – but I also needed to know if this would complicate my plans. And if they were getting it on, then it would definitely complicate my plans. "What Contest, May?"

"Oh, there's this Contest in Mossdeep City, and I wanted to participate, but Max told me to stay here for reasons he-" she made air quotes with her fingers "'-didn't want to disclose.'"

"Because we were coming," I concluded.

"Yeah, it was meant to be a surprise, but then you called…" Max agreed.

A moment of silence, before May picked up the conversation again.

"But anyway, it'll take a week at least, right?"

"I'd be surprised if it doesn't, yeah," I agreed.

"Great." She grinned. "Not that I don't want you to come, but I really want to participate in this Contest-"

"Because Drew asked her to come," Max cut in with a sly grin.

"Max! He was just asking if I was going to participate or not, not inviting me to come!" May was adamant in her refusal that Drew hadn't asked her, while Max pressed on. With slight amusement, I watched the siblings banter, half-listening to May's denial.

Drew liked May, I didn't doubt that with all those roses, and May was very much crushing on him too. Shame they weren't here, at least those two would've been easy to couple.

Yeah, be careful what you wish for.

"Brock? Are you okay?" Max's voice brought me back to Earth, and I grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry, just really tired. Were you saying something?" I apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine," May quickly reassured me. "It's not important, you just kinda zoned out there."

"Right... yeah, it's been a long day." It truly had been, and I was so tired. I just wanted a hot shower, a good dinner and then calling it an early night.

"That's okay, we'll see you soon anyway," May said, and Max nodded enthusiastically.

"Thanks guys, I'll see you in a week or something. Good luck with your Contest, May," I told her, and after some more waves and goodbyes, the screen turned black again.

I stared at my reflection for some time, pondering the things May and Max had just told me. At least I now knew for sure that May would be there for my plan.

However, what I had heard about Drew worried me slightly… If May wasn't dating Drew, she'd probably be willing to pretend to like Ash. But if Drew was actually there, he might cause some trouble…

But really, what would he be doing at the Maple's? That would be too much of a coincidence and really, I had had my share of bad luck and coincidence for the rest of the year. And then some.

Nope, Drew wouldn't ruin my plans, I decided. With that worry put at ease, I got up from the videophone and walked back in the common area.

Seeing that Paul had returned from his shower – meaning that there was now a shower free – and that there was no sign of anyone exploding anytime soon, I decided that now would be a good time to get myself that long promised rest.

Finally some Brocko time.

A/N: Thank you for reading! We're slowly inching closer to Hoenn – man, they sure take a long time to get there, don't they? XD

And I have some good news! There will be at least one update in November, and maybe two, but at least one. So yay! :D

Please leave me a review, both good and bad are welcome! I'd love to hear what you think, so please review!

Thank you, and see you in November!

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