Pokemon Kanto Journeys

by MiracleKing64

Many trainers dream of becoming the best, some are born to a legacy. Ash Ketchem from the Pallet town was no different being the son of the world's greatest trainer Red Ketchem, you would have a lot of live up to watch as Ash and his friends travel Kanto as they battle for their dreams and discovers the magic and wonders of the world of Pokémon. M for cursing and other stuff later

5. Showdown in Pewter City

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon

---

Ash, Sparks, Misty and their new traveling companion the ninja girl Janine walked along the path toward Pewter City the sight of Ash's first ever gym and Ash was excited it would be his first step to becoming a pokemon master and catching up to his dad.

"We should be in Pewter soon." Janine told them.

"Great, then I can actually get into bed and not have to worry about bugs crawling into my sleeping bag." Misty said glad that they will soon be in Pewter.

"Good for you." Ash said before smiling. "I can finally sign up for the pokemon league and challenge the gym." As Butterfree flew by over his head

"Picha." Spark's agreed.

"Free, free." Butterfree also agreed

"So Bug-Eye?" Ash asked.

Butterfree just shook its head.

"How about Flutter?"

Once more Butterfree shocks its head no.

"Yeah, that one does sound a bit girly." Ash admitted as he felt like he was running out ideas.

"Still trying to find a nickname for Butterfree?" Misty asked, annoyed, as Ash has been doing this since they left the Viridian Forest.

"Yeah, I didn't think it would be this tough. I just can't think of a name he likes that fits." Ash said

"Butterfree have compound eyes, they allow them to see in multiple directions." Janine simply said.

"Why do you know that?" Misty asked hoping she won't regret the answer.

"To take better care of Ardios." Janine said with Misty not bothering trying to ask how those two things are related.

"So, compound eyes?" Ash asked himself, thinking about the details when it hit him.

"Kaleidoscope?" Ash asked Butterfree with hopeful look

"What?" Misty said confusedly.

"Free, free." Butterfree nodded, liking the name.

"Alright Kaleidoscope it is, buddy." Ash told the newly named Kaleidoscope. "Thanks for the hint Janine."

Janine just looked coldly at him. "I only did it so you would stop coming up with nicknames so I can have a little quiet to focus." Janine said, turning her head away from them.

Ash's face turned slightly sour but chose to not even respond back. "Now I just have to think of a name for this little guy here." He pulled up the pokeball with his Weedle in it, the bug pokemon looking at him also wanting to be nicknamed.

"Could you please not start on that now, we're already had to hear you listening to so many names all week we don't want to deal with again already." Misty frowned.

"For once I agree with you." Janine agreed.

Misty just looked at Janine; she didn't think that the ninja girl or her would have some common ground. At least they can both agree that Ash's big mouth was driving them crazy.

"Girls…" Ash just grumbled, he just had to get stuck with two girls, one was just with him for a bike he didn't even want to steal. And the other one just decided to join, he hoped would leave the group once they got to Pewter, he barely handled one girl but two was a nightmare.

"Pi…chu." Sparks tease him.

"Quiet you." Ash said annoyed

"Free… free." His Butterfree also teases him.

"Not you either." Ash told Kaleidoscope, Ash looked up to the sky wondering if his dad had to go through this on his journey?

"Well there it is." That is when Ash hears Janine's voice.

Ash and Misty looked to see Pewter City over the horizon.

"Yes, there's our first gym battle." Ash said as he stood on a large boulder.

"Pewter City is gray and full of stone." a man's voice spoke, getting the gang's attention.

"Huh? Who's this old man?" Ash asked looking down, he saw an old man who had a long bead with a red beanie, with a yellow sleeveless shirt, and green pants.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Misty asks the man.

"The names Flint and Pewter City is famous for their rocks, and your friend is sitting on my merchandise." Flint told them.

"These rocks are considered merchandise?" Janine frowned, she jumped down and saw shelves with rocks on it and on the ground with multiple outrageous prices. "200 pokedollars?! Who in their right mind would pay money for a rock?" Janine said, you had to be very stupid to even pay for them, and they weren't even evolution stones.

"It is how I make my living here even the simplest rock has its value by those with a keen eye." Flint calmly said.

'This guy clearly has rocks for brains if he thinks that anyone would pay for these, and especially at those prices.' Ash thought.

"Anyway, which way to the Pewter City Gym?" Ash asked Flint.

"Chaa." Sparks yawned, feeling tired.

"You're planning to challenge the gym with your pokemon exhausted?" Flint simply asked before standing up.

Ash looked at Sparks now noticing how tired he looked and then saw that Kaleidoscope also seemed a bit out of it as well.

"Oh, I guess the trip was a bit more tiring than I realized." Ash admitted as Misty sighed in annoyance.

"How are you even a trainer if you can't tell if your pokemon are exhausted?" Janine questioned while shaking her head.

"I don't need your commentary Janine. I just got caught up in the idea of my first gym battle." Ash said embarrassed

"Look kids, how about you follow me and I will show you where Pokemon Center is?" Flit offered to them as Ash and Misty looked at each hesitantly.

"Fine." Only to be surprised to hear Janine agree, Janine turned to them with a frown. "He lives in this city so he knows the layout better than the three of us, so showing us where the Center is will save us time and energy finding it ourselves." she said with logic in her voice.

"Alright I can get that but well is it the best idea to follow him cause wel-" Misty was saying

"If you're saying that he might try leading us into some kind of trap I have already considered that and find the risk of that low. If you look while it true he is in ideal position to intercept new trainers coming from Pallet Town him having occupation he claim would put off most if not everyone trusting him with his high price's also offering to take us into Pewter City for ambush while possible wouldn't be idea rather it better to do more inwards away and from this road by faking needing help."

"So what if you're wrong?" Misty challenge

"Like I said, the risk is low not only because it is unlikely but if he does attempt something I'll easily incapacitate him." Janine said, cracking her knuckles which caused Ash, Misty and Sparks to look at her nervously.

"This way! Oh by the way, that would be two dollars for standing on my merchandise each." Flit called out to the three

Ash, Misty Janine and Sparks anime fell on to the ground at Flint's words.

As Flint guided them into talking he spoke up. "So you're from Pallet?" Flint asked the group.

"No." Janine said

"Me either." Misty answered

"It just me." Ash pointed to himself.

"Hmm, I ran into a young man about a week ago. An Oak to say." Flint said.

"You met Gary?" Ash asked in surprise.

"Yes, looks just like his father." Flint nodded.

"You know Green?" Misty asked.

"Wait, you know that Gary is Green's son! How?" Ash asked, shocked sure he knew everyone in Pallet Town knew that but how does Misty!

"It's pretty common knowledge there was even a documentary done about his family. Actually he is currently favored to win the league this year." Janine told Ash.

Ash frowned. "Of course that is happening ." Ash said mild frustration at the situation.

"Well to answer your question In a way you could say I know him." Flint said vaguely.

"Hmm." Janine hummed that this man was hiding something but what?

"So you're planning to enter the league, am I correct?" Flint asked Ash.

"Yeah, my dream is to become the world's greatest pokemon master and surpass my dad." Ash said.

"So that means you plan to battle the Pewter City Gym leader?"

"Yeah so?" Ash asked, eyebrows arched.

"Do you have any other pokemon other than Pichu and Butterfree on you?" Flint asked.

"I have a Pidgey and Weedle." Ash answered.

"Heheheh, if that's all you got then you can't win." Flint laughed.

"What makes you say that?" Ash growled annoyed.

"He is right." Janine said flatly.

"Ash, all your pokemon are weak against the gym here, Rock Types are the Gym Leader's speciality." Misty explained.

"With none of them having training to overcome type disadvantages like that as stand. Along with facing properly trained pokemon under league rules" Janine added she empathized last

Ash wanted to yell back but even he could tell they were right but that doesn't mean he can't try and at the very least he would learn what pokemon he's up against.

"Hmph, though stranger things have happened." Flint simply said, as they finally reached the pokemon center, which was very different from the Viridian Center being fairly smaller, as they entered not far away a young girl with curly blond hair that could be seen poking out of her gray herringbone hat she also wearing a blue long sleeve shirt with a red vest with blue jeans and red rectangular glasses that hid her eyes as she stared at entrance for moment before moving away heading to entrance to poke center entrance.

"Can you please heal my pokemon." Ash asks at the desk, seeing a woman who had her back to him.

"Of course." the woman said, turning around putting the tray down in front of him and to Ash's shock he saw.

"Nurse Joy? You work here too?" Ash was surprised to see Nurse Joy at this pokemon center as well.

"Oh, I'm sorry but who are you?" Nurse Joy asked, confused.

"I'm Ash, you know me and Misty helped you back in Viridian. When Team Rocket attacked?" Ash said, confused why she didn't remember him.

Nurse Joy's eyes widened slightly. "You're the one that helped my sister?"

"Your sister? So you identical twins right?" Ash asked trying get grasp on situation

"No, we may look alike but we're just 2 years apart." Nurse Joy waved her hand. "Though you could say that Yuki is closer to her age though they wouldn't call themselves twin's either." Nurse Joy said getting lost in her own thoughts

"Really?" Ash said, crossing his arms.

"Though if we're talking about my sister's who do view themselves as twins I would say it be Hana and Mimi, they're practically identical in personality and practically inseparable. I remember how they worked to get put in the same center. I remember how it all started with two with that Pidgey-." Nurse Joy said continuing to get lost in remembering her family.

"Hana and Mimi?" Ash muttered wondering how many nurse joys there are.

"Let's just say Nurse Joy has a big family and leave it at that." Janine said, this was common for those who started traveling, herself included she barely could wrap idea how this exists along with the others but since they don't affect her mission she just ignores it.

"Ahhh, yeah." Ash agreed, feeling like his brain wouldn't be able to handle the stress.

"- so the two had to bathe together for a month just two of them but it is because of that they start to see each other as twin's but also started their habit to get a bit personal with each other like how-."

"Um Nurse Joy, can we get back on track." Misty said not really wanting to hear any awkward family history.

"Oh sorry about that." Nurse Joy said with blush." Well back to topic, thank you both for helping out my sister and the pokemon, how about you two eat for free in the house your friend can as well."

"That's very kind of you." Misty smiled.

"Are you sure?" Ash asked,

" he really only did what anyone else would have in this situation." Flint said to her only for him get disapproving look from Nurse Joy

Nurse Joy looked at him with a hard glare. "They risked their lives to save my sister and the pokemon there that took courage. Also let me ask you this, are you going to take that hat off today? if not I would kindly ask you to leave?" Nurse Joy told him in a polite but stern voice.

"Hehehe, you've asked me that so many times and I still haven't done it and it's not going to be today." Flint said, giving a smile before walking away leaving the center.

Nurse Joy only shook her head, the three trainers turned to her. "You know him?" Misty asked.

"More than you think." Nurse Joy sighed.

"Did he try to sell you rocks?" Ash asked.

"No, but his head is full of rocks." Nurse Joy said. "Wouldn't need to sell any to live If he just took off that hat." Muttering last part

Ash looked at Misty who just simply shrugged, Janine could feel that there was something between Flint and this Nurse Joy but it didn't concern her at all.

Nurse Joy then got a smile on her face again. "Now would you two please put your pokemon here so I can heal them?" Nurse Joy said taking out two more trays.

"S-Sure." Misty stuttered for a second before putting her two PokeBall in the one on the left.

"No, I can take care of my pokemon myself." Janine said.

"Are you sure?" Nurse Joy asked her slightly concerned.

"Yes." she said coldly.

Nurse Joy looked at Ash and Misty who just shrugged, she really didn't want others touching her Ariados Nurse Joy once put on a smile and nodded, she took Ash and Misty's pokemon away to be looked after. While they waited for them the trio were sitting in a booth Ash on one side with Misty and Janine sitting on the other, Ash had a bowl of rice while Misty was drinking some juice and Janine had just a cup of hot tea mixed with tea leaves that she brought with her.

"Look Ash I know you're smart enough to realize as you stand you can't beat gym at disadvantage your at but lucky for you I have solution." Misty told him.

"I'm fine as I am, I don't need your solution." Ash told the red-head. "I know I'm at a type disadvantage but type isn't always what decides a battle."

"Yeah if battling wild pokemon that be true but you're battling a gym leader who pokemon are trained for battle and who have a lot more experience than yours so having type advantage is best shot at winning that why I will let you BORROW Star-" Misty was saying.

"Don't." Janine cut off Misty, her eyes closed before taking a sip of tea. "If he has borrowed a pokemon from you then what's the point of him even continuing from here." Janine said as she noticed a girl with large spiral glasses take a seat a few tables away from them and saw she had just a cut sandwich and a bottle of water.

"Look Misty." Ash began trying to speak calmly. "I get what you are saying and I will admit I would prefer if I had one pokemon that even had a move effect against rock but I won't use a pokemon that isn't my own. I want to win using my and my pokemon strength and not someone else's."

"How long will that take?" Misty asked "Ash you have about little under year until league starts and I don't want be stuck here for next couple of months as you stubbornly ju-"

Ash slammed his hand on the table causing Misty to flinch while Janine just drank her tea not even bothered. "I'll show you! I won't be here for months! And I'll get that badge on my first try." Ash said before getting up walking off to see if his pokemon was fully healed and head to gym.

"Grr, why that little! Doesn't he even think? I'm trying to help him." Misty grumbled.

"You know there is a difference between giving help and being a crutch for someone." Janine calmly

"I'm not a crutch!" Misty shouted at Janine.

The ninja girl glared at Misty. "You aren't really helping him at all, you're just offering him an easy way out of his problem, you do know that if you weren't here he would have been faced with this problem anyway."

"He owes me my bike and I'm not going to be stuck here waiting to get a new one." Misty said.

"Do you have somewhere else to be?" Janine asked. "You're a little too far from Cerulean aren't you?"

Misty flinches at her words "I-It's none of your b-business why I'm out here I just want to get a bike I own and then I'm gone."

"Whatever you say, Misty Mermaid." Janine remarked with a small smile.

Misty goes pale at what she just said . 'H-How did she know that? has she b-been Cerulean before!?' Misty thought of having a slight panic attack.

While Misty was panicking in her mind Janine then subtly looked to where their little eavesdropper was and noticed the young woman was gone. 'Hmm, none of my business, while those two are having their soap opera, I need to do some investigating.' Janine thought as she finished her tea.

---

Ash arrived at the desk where Nurse Joy was waiting for him. "Hello, Ash your pokemon are all better now along with Misty's." Nurse Joy told him, as she pushed the tray to him with Sparks who was all out his PokeBall and on it, the electric rodent leaped at Ash who caught him in a hug.

"I'm glad to see you're all better buddy." Ash smiled.

"Pichu." Sparks smiled.

Nurse Joy looked around. "Where is Misty? I have her pokemon right here." Nurse Joy asked, wondering where the red-head was.

"Hmm, probably still eating, I'm sure she'll be up soon." Ash frowned, although he hoped he wouldn't see her for a while.

Nurse Joy nodded. "Well, have a good day and good luck in your gym battle, Ash, but I have to warn you that the gym leader is very strong." Nurse Joy bowed.

Ash nodded, taking the rest of his pokemon who looked happy to see him through their pokeballs.

"Are you telling me you're planning to challenge brock?" Flint's voice came from behind.

Ash turned to see the older man standing behind him right outside the Poke Center.

Nurse Joy seems about to say something only for Flint to say "I'm not in your center unless this street is a part of it now?" In a playful voice as Nurse Joy just sighed showing her frustration with this man.

Ash could see that this seemed to be a common thing for the two adults. "Yeah, I'm planning too." Ash nodded.

"With the roster you told me, I say your chances are slim to none." Flint said, crossing his arms.

Ash just glared at Flint. "I won't know until I try, nothing is going to stop me from beating Brock and winning my way into the pokemon league."

"Hahahaha, like I told your friend stranger things have happened, but I doubt it will be like how it went with the previous leader." Flint said before walking out of the doors.

"Huh? What does he mean?" Ash asked, confused by Flint's words.

"Just ignore him, you should go and get your gym battle." Nurse Joy told the boy.

"Oh yeah thanks!" Ash said as he walked out the door.

Nurse Joy sighed. 'Oh Flint, when will you drop this act already?' She thought to herself not paying mind as a girl passed by her leaving the center.

Now outside of the Center, the young girl from earlier saw Ash walking away. She walked after him while keeping a good distance away.

---

After a couple of minutes Ash finally arrived at the Pewter City Gym, it looked like a large boulder that was carver. "So this is it? My first true step." Ash stated, he wouldn't lie and say he wasn't nervous. This was his first official gym battle so it could be more difficult than his battle with Janine.

"Pichu." Sparks uttered, patting Ash's head.

Ash looked at his starter and nodded, before he walked up to the gym and opened both doors. The rookie trainer saw only darkness and couldn't see anything. Even Spark was confused

"What? Did he forget to pay his power bill?" Ash muttered as he carefully walked forward not seeing someone else slip into the room but making their way to the right side.

That when a light suddenly comes on in front of him and he sees a man sitting down at the back end of the gym. The young man didn't look that much older than him, maybe 2 years or 3 at most. He had brown spiky hair and tan skin. His eyes were lined, he wore an orange and black vest with a green line going down the center and a second line across his shoulders with baggy cargo pants and brown boots.

"Are you Brock?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, that's my name. I'm assuming you're here to challenge the gym." Brock said.

"Yeah I'm Ash from Pallet Town and I challenge you to a battle!" Ash declared.

Brock looked at Ash then at his Pichu. "Fine, we will both use two pokemon assuming you have more pokemon then just that Pichu."

"Of course." Ash answered.

Brock stood up and continued to look down at Ash and Sparks. "Now I advise you to get out of the arena for our battle."

"Huh? Arena?" Ash questioned, just then lights flashed on, Ash looked to see the walls began to open and out of them both two tiles gilded towards them.

"Ahh." Ash shouted as he and Sparks began to run to the other side of the field as the two halves continued to move towards each other, Ash grabbed Sparks and jumped just as the tiles slammed together as his head fell off his head.

"Ok little more warning next or next have light's before someone comes in!" Ash shouted wondering if Brock found this funny or did all gym leaders do this?

"Is this your first official gym battle?" Brock questioned completely ignoring Ash.

Ash got to his feet grabbing his hat off the ground putting back on "Yeah, so what?" Ash remarked, annoyed.

"How long have you been with that Pichu?" Brock asked.

"2 weeks." Ash answered.

"Hmm, your Pichu is at its cutest stage, not even a Pikachu, it's too weak." Brock stated.

"Grr, worry about your own pokemon while I worry about mine." Ash said. 'What he doesn't know is Spark's hidden power, but of course whenever he uses it he'll quickly become drained and exhausted… but Sparks is my best shot at winning I need take out first one quickly and then hit second one with everything he got and hopefully either Kaleidoscope or Swiftwing finish the second pokemon if Sparks is taken out.'

Brock jumped from his spot and landed on his side, taking out a pokeball. "Alright then let the ma-"

"Aah… nooo." The two trainers were caught off guard when they heard the sound of a girl's grunt. The two looked up at the stands and saw a young girl who seemed to have dropped something.

"D-damn…" the girl said, as she picked up some notes and a few pencils only for one pencil to fall off edge and break when it hit the ground below.

"C-Come on, I only have a couple of them left." the girl whined, before looking at the two trainers who just had awkward expressions. "O-oh sorry, I-I came here t-to see the match don't m-mind me."

"Huh?" Ash uttered confused.

"Is she with you?" Brock asks, slightly put off by what happened.

"No, I've never seen her before." Ash answered, he wondered where she even came from? Was she here when he got here? Or did she enter not long after he did.

"Hmm, then let's not disappoint the lady, choose your first pokemon." Brock told Ash after regaining his composure.

Ash frowned before looking at Sparks. "Alright, Sparks you're up first."

Sparks nodded before stepping onto the field. "Pichu!" Sparks's cheek pouches crackling with electricity.

"Onix I chose you!" Brock shouted, throwing his pokeball.

In a flash of white light, a giant rock snake pokemon appeared; its size dwarfed anything Ash and Sparks had seen up to this point.

"Yorrrhg!" Onix bellowed, as it stood over Sparks.

"Picha!" Sparks shouted in fear as it ran back to Ash and hid behind him.

Ash just looked at the rock pokemon, he didn't expect Brock to start out with such a massive pokemon. 'Oh man, this is going to be something…' Ash gritted his teeth.

"Have you already lost your nerve?" Brock taunted slightly.

"Hardly." Ash retorted, before looking down at Sparks. "Sparks, I know he's big and scary but I know you can do it size doesn't always mean everything."

Sparks looked at Ash before looking back at the field, getting the courage Sparks moved back onto the field.

"Alright let's go." Ash told Brock.

The girl was looking at Ash while writing down something in her notes. 'Either he is overconfident, crazy or just an idiot? Using a small electric rodent against a giant rock snake?' the girl coldly thought.

Brock only grinned. "Onix uses Bind!"

Onix moved at Sparks with a surprising speed preparing to wrap itself around the small rodent.

'I can't let him grab Sparks.' Ash thought

"Quick Sparks use Quick Attack to avoid being grabbed and get behind Onix!" Ash called out to his pokemon.

"Pi." Sparks said as he just avoided the rock snakes as he ran around Onix at fast speeds.

Brock looks at Pichu mildly impressed by its speed.

"Alright now Sparks full power Thundershock!" Ash said as Sparks got in position

"Pichuuuu!" Sparks fire off Thundershock hitting Onix directly as he is covered with electricity.

Two hearing what he said have a different reaction Brock releases a sigh of disappointment while the girl just watches her clumsiness and anxiousness seemingly gone for a moment.

Finally after Pichu stops as he starts to take a few breaths, before falling on his butt exhausted. That's when Onix easily turns around as if nothing had happened

"I was hoping you were actually smarter than that, you should know that electric attacks won't work on Onix." Brock said with disappointment in his voice.

'What! Even if he rock type electric attacks WOULD still do some damage unless…' Ash's eyes widened.

"He is a ground type too isn't he." Ash said dread filling his body knowing now that Sparks can't win if he can't use his electric attacks his greatest strength. He needs to get him out there NOW as Ash Desperate goes grab his PokeBall!

"Onix once more, bind!" Brock called out ready to end it.

"NO!" Ash yelled as tried to return, Sparks only got blocked by Onix's body.

Sparks tried from using so much power that by time he realized what was happening he was caught between Onix stone body as it tightly constricted him.

"Chaaa!" Sparks called out in pain, feeling his whole body getting squeezed.

"Sparks!" Ash called out in fear.

"Do you surrender?" Brock called out.

Ash gritted his teeth before lowering his head. "Grr… yes, I surrender."

"Onix." Brock simply said.

"Orrgggh." Onix groaned as it released Sparks who fell to the ground defeated.

Brock returned Onix to his pokeball, while Ash rushed over to Sparks and picked him up in his arms. "I wouldn't even try to battle me again." Brock told Ash before he walked away.

Ash lowered his head, the bill of his hat covering his eyes just as the lights turned off darkening the gym, the woman from earlier looked down in the dark for a second before she left.

---

Janine was currently talking to the cashier of the pokemart, being among few people she talks to often in the area when she needs to get supplies for Ariados.

"Here you go ma'am, everything you'll need." the worker said, finishing bagging her supply

Janine didn't say anything and just paid the man, before she left the pokemart. Janine didn't just need to buy supplies but she also searched around for any information on Team Rocket but so far she hasn't come up with anything.

'It seems I'm not going to get anything from this town.' Janine thought, knowing that Pewter City was just a dead end so she just headed to Cerulean city. "Maybe I should've captured those three idiots even if they were at the bottom. I might have been able to find out something, however minor it would be, can't change it now." Janine looked to see the sun starting to set. 'I wonder what both the prodigal son and the Misty Mermaid are doing? Hmph, like I care.' Janine thought before she walked down the street deciding what her next move might be.

---

Misty was currently down by the river, it was most dried out with only a little water just flowing through the stream. The red-head was still recovering from what Janine said, how exactly did she know that she was from Cerulean?

"Ohhh, why did I have to get stuck with a stubborn boy and an annoying nosey ninja girl?" Misty asked herself, she took her pokeball and looked at her Staryu. She wanted to be the best water pokemon trainer however it would mean leaving home to gain the experience not to say being away doesn't have a few good things going for it but after what she's been through she can't help but wonder can she become the best?

"Mom… can I really…?" Misty muttered before she tossed Staryu's pokeball into the air and in a flash of light the Starfish appeared next to Misty.

"Hepp" Staryu looked at his trainer.

"Let's begin." Misty told her pokemon, as they prepared for training.

---

Ash walked down the streets with Sparks in his arms, the young trainer felt down he had his first real loss and it wasn't even close and Sparks paid the price for his foolishness, right now all he could really do was take him to the pokemon center.

Suddenly Ash collided with someone and they both fell to the ground, luckily Ash fell on his back and didn't drop Sparks. "Hey watch where your-" Ash didn't finish when he saw it was.

"O-Oh darn it, my notes." the same girl from the Gym said, as she frantically tried to gather her notes off the ground.

Ash was able to get a better look at her and she was the same age as Brock, maybe a bit younger. "I-I'm so sorry." the girl apologized with a bow.

Ash looked at the girl, she was just very clumsy and fidgety. "Look It's alright, let me help you." Ash said, taking off his backpack and gently placing Sparks on it, before he helped the girl gather her notes.

Ash gave the girl her notes and she gratefully took them. "T-thank you, again, I'm v-very sorry for bumping into you." she said, rubbing the back of her head, before she looked at him. "Hey, aren't you the kid that battled at the gym?"

Ash lowered his head and sighed. "Yeahhhh, I didn't do too well." Not liking the reminder of his blunder.

"Well at least you're not the only one I really ruined that moment between you two." the woman said in a down tone.

"Ahh, yeah… but on the Brightside you relieved the tension." Ash said, trying to cheer her up. "I have introduced myself, my name is Ash, Ash Ketchum."

"D-Domino… and I'm the world's best freelance journalist!" Domino shouted, pumping her fist to the air, Ash looked at her, surprised with the sudden change in tone. Calming down Domino reverted back to her usually clumsy self. "Or, I want to be one. I've been having what you would call a Domino effect, every story I try to write well it flops ... .and I've been fired from every newspaper job so freelancing is the only way to write my stories." Domino lowered her head.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Ash said, feeling sorry for Domino sounding like she had it rough. "Is that what you were doing back in the gym trying to find a story?"

"Yes I heard that some great trainer came through here recently so I was going to ask him if he happened to know who they were but… I lost my nerve after the battle." Domino said, embarrassed clutching her clothes.

Ash remembered that Gary would have gone through here recently. Could he be the person?

"Hahaha, I see you're quite the ladies man, bagging not just two but three girls." Flint's voice called out as he stood in their way.

Ash turned to Flint with a deep blush on his face. "They aren't my girlfriends!" Ash shouted at the older man.

Unknown to both Domino underneath her persona rolled her eyes.

"Sure." Flint said, before looking at Sparks. "It seems like you have lost."

Ash bit his lip and lowered his head, that all Flint needed to see. "Come with me." Flint said, turning his back to Ash and Domino. The Rookie Trainer just looked at the older man, before looking back down at Sparks, he quickly picked up his partner before he bowed to Domino.

"I'm sorry for the trouble Domino, I hope you succeed in finding your story and becoming a world best journalist." Ash told her as he followed after Flint.

"Thanks, and I wish your pokemon good health." Domino said with a small wave.

Domino took off her glasses and just watched the retreating forms of Ash and Flint. 'I don't know why the boss is interested in you but he always has his reasons.' From what she saw in his match Ash wasn't that impressive at most he seemed little above the average starting trainer with some sense of tactics but other than that he wasn't even considered a threat to her at least.

'Giving up the battle fairly quickly despite still having one pokemon to use. But If he does turn out to be a positional threat to his plans, then I'll continue as ordered.' Domino thought she didn't bother to follow because she knew that he wouldn't leave until he won the badge, turning on her heel Domino walked back into the city.

---

Flint had taken Ash to his home, a small house outside the city boundaries, Flint had given Sparks a potion and an Oran Berry and a small pokemon was placed on the pillow with a blanket over him.

Ash wasn't that far, his legs crossed, the rookie trainer looked at his pokemon who was asleep. He was happy that Sparks was going to be alright, but other things clouded his mind. Flint walked over to him, tray in hand and steaming cups of tea on them.

"You shouldn't get discouraged." Flint said, before sitting down next to Ash. "Defeat is simply a part of the journey; what matters is what you do after."

The older man held out a cup, Ash looked at it for a second before accepting it. "I know, but it's how I lost. Onix was not just a rock type but a ground type too, and I should've considered that possibility and Sparks paid for it!" Ash growled, gripping his cup slightly.

Flint looked at the frustrated trainer, before taking a sip of his tea. "You made a mistake, everyone does. Brock's been at this much longer than you, he was forced to quickly mature and grow as a trainer."

"Forced?" Ash uttered, wondering what Flint meant.

"Follow me." Flint told Ash, getting up heading for the door Ash looked at Sparks still sleeping, Ash got up and followed after Flint.

After heading back into the city and back to the gym Flint led Ash to a house hidden behind the gym and to a fence where the two could see inside and what Ash saw surprised him.

There was not only Brock but multiple young children that varied in ages but were all younger than Brock. Ash looked to see Brock was completely different to how he was back when they battled each other, seeming more warm and gentle compared to before as he was making food while wearing an apron.

That's when one younger girl came over to tug at his pants "I tore my skirt!" she said, seeming like she was about to cry as Brock turned to her giving her a kind smile, "All right all right I will sow it up give me second." a second later Brock took out a sewing kit and began to fix up his sister's skirt.

"Is it almost done?" she asked, looking over Brock's shoulder.

"Almost." Brock said in a reassuring voice as he was finishing up.

Just then the doorbell rang, Brock looked towards the door and smiled just as he finished his sister's dress. "Here you go." he told his sister who was happy to have her skirt fixed, he turned to the door and called. "It's open."

A second later to Ash's shock Nurse Joy who lacked her nurse's outfit, wore a magenta shirt and blue skirt and white socks. "Aunt Joy!" some of the kids said happily, in which Nurse Joy smiled happily as a lot of younger one's them rushed over and hugged her.

"Aunt Joy?" Ash asked quietly.

"How are you all doing? Have you all been good?" Nurse Joy asked, then returned the hugs.

"I've been good." One of Brock's youngest sisters said.

"Me too." one of Brock's brothers said.

"Will you be staying tonight?" one of the older girls asked.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay for long tonight." Nurse Joy said with a sad smile, which made a lot of them disappointed. "Don't worry, I'll be free tomorrow and we can all spend the day together." that perks them up.

Joy turned to Brock and smiled. "So how was your gym battle today?" She asked curiously.

Brock just shook his head. "It wasn't really much of a battle, unfortunately. This trainer wasn't like the last one who came through." Brock admitted.

"So did you?" Nurse Joy asked

"I won and it ended as best I could." Brock told her. "I know you can't stay for long, so how about I make you something to go, dinner's almost ready."

"Thank you, though, as long as there is not too much trouble." Nurse Joy said she didn't want to be seen as a freeloader.

Brock smiled. "Aunt Joy, it's the least I can do." Brock said.

"Brock what did I tell you?" Nurse Joy asked him in slightly teasing voice

"Ok Lilian." Brock said, rubbing the back of his head.

Flint grabbed Ash shoulder giving him a look telling him that it was time they left, Ash got the message and they moved away from the house. Ash looked back for a second before he followed after Flint.

---

Ash and Flint were walking through the city, as they walked Ash was digesting what he had seen back at Brock's home.

"I never thought I would see that side of Brock." Ash admitted.

"He has ten little brothers and sisters so he had to grow up quickly for their sake both as a trainer and as a person giving up a lot in the process." Flint explained

Ash was now starting to understand what Flint was saying, he wasn't sure if he could do the same if he had little brothers or sisters specially ten, it just showed how strong Brock was, he sacrificed a lot for them. "But what about their parents? Where are they?"

"His good for nothing father, the former gym leader before him just up and left on the training journey and never came back and his mother did the best she could but all over it eventually overwhelmed her and she… well she is in a better place now. After that Brock had step up for his sibling's and gym"

Ash just looked at Flint, in a better place… that was something no one should experience now he felt bad for Brock and his sibling. "But what about Nurse Joy? How does she fit into all this?"

"Heh, Nurse Joy and Brock's parents, specifically his mother go way back, they were like sisters and she has been looking after them ever since. And those kids see her as a segregated aunt figure." Flint weakly grinned.

"Wow, I-I don't know what to say." Ash said, he always had his mom and even with his dad not always being there he still tried his best to be there for them, Ash couldn't imagine what it would be like without either of them let alone both.

"I'm not sure how I will feel when I battle Brock again." Ash said.

"Huh? Even after you lost you still want a rematch?" Flint gasped in surprise.

"Well after learning all this, I see how Brock gives his everything despite what he's been through and how he keeps pushing for his family. If I just give up here after one defeat then I feel like I'm disrespecting my mom and dad with everything they taught me." Ash said clenching his fists, thinking about his mom and dad they would keep on going despite how hard things got and he would do the same.

"Not quite what I would take from it, but I can understand your reasoning." The two heard voice behind them and turned to see Jannie, she had her arms crossed and her scarf gently flapped in the breeze.

"Janine?" Ash said in surprise, he didn't expect to see the ninja girl here.

"So you lost huh?" Janine asked, already knowing the answer from what she observed. "So then what's your plan then this time?"

"Grr…" Ash clenched his fist. "I don't know, maybe if I can power up Sparks, I was hoping he would tap into his hidden power but it didn't happen but even if that happened would that be even enough on its own with that ground typing?" Ash questioned knowing he is going to need something else as well but what else does he have?

"Hidden Power?" Flint mutters before clearing his throat "Well if you need power up I might have a solution to that follow me."

That got both trainers attention "Really?" Ash asked, while Janine was skeptical, the two looked at each other. Janine simply shrugged and the two followed after Flint.

---

the three arrived at an old water wheel, Ash, Janine and Sparks looked at it with . Flint held his arms behind his back as he looked at the water wheel.

"This is an old water wheel that used to be connected to Pewter City that used to generate electricity but it is no longer used nowadays but they left the old generator here." Flint explained.

"I get it, you're planning to use it to channel the electricity of the generator into Sparks." Janine deduced. "But there's a catch that would be relatively safe if he was Pikachu but he is not considering Sparks is a Pichu his body can only safe store so much electricity at one time and should he absorb more than he can handle."

Ash looked at Janine with concern. "Are you saying Sparks…"

"He will die from the overload and potentially take whoever is in his general vicinity with him." Janine said bluntly.

Ash looked down at the ground, wondering if he was making the right call. Was it worth powering up Spark at the risk of him dying. He looked at his start, who looked up at him.

"Sparks, it's your call. If you want to do this, whatever you choose I will respect it." Ash said.

Sparks looked at Ash as he left choice to him as he closed his eyes for a few moments and then he opened them with a determined smile. "Picha, Pi!" Sparks said, his cheek pouches crackling with small electricity.

Ash's eyes widened but then smiled. "Alright!" Ash said he needed to believe in Sparks and he knew his starter could do it. With that one problem solved it was time to move onto the next

Flint looked at the kid and his pokemon, for a second they were replaced by a young boy and Pikachu. He shook her head before speaking. "Then let's get this show on the road."

"But how do we keep the wheel from turning too fast?" Ash asked.

"That's simple." Flint told them as ash "the river dried up so it can't turn" Cause Ash to fall on to the ground.

"He's right there's water, but the river is too low to push the wheel." Janine pointed out, as she looked at the river only seeing a small stream "Besides just strengthening Sparks won't change the outcome so I will ask you again what is your plan?"

Ash went silent as he thought of trying to think of a plan with what he has 'Alright other than Sparks I have three other pokemon: a Weedel, Swiftwing and Kaleidoscope but none have good matchup against a Onix and whatever Brock other rock pokemon will be. Weedal is definitely out so that leaves Swiftwing and Kaleidoscope but neither of them have anything that lets them effectively fight against rock type.'

'Swiftwing only got normal and flying attack's that required him to get close which would put him at risk getting grabbed. Kaleidoscope got his powders so he could possibly wear down Brock pokemon but he is even more vulnerable to Brock, Onix rock attack's then Swiftwing plus I don't think he could win battle of attrition if he can't attack if only he had attack that wait…' Ash though as something occurred to him as remember something his mother told him

"I got it!" Ash shouted, snapping his fingers.

"What do you mean?" Janine asked, eyebrows arched.

"I thought of a way to beat his rock pokemon." Ash told Janine as he grabbed one of his PokeBalls.

"What are you thinking?" Janine asked mildly curious

Flint looked at the two before interjecting. "Well that's good and I have a solution for the water wheel problem though it won't be easy."

Ash nodded, he didn't care if it was easy or not. "Flint, how are you so much about pokemon?" Ash asked curiously.

"Especially given that you literally sell rocks to people." Janine added in more suspicious tone

Flint flinched before rubbing the back of his head. "Well… when you sell as many rocks as I do you tend to learn a few things from traveling trainers who stop for rock." Flint laughed.

"Oh alright." Ash said surprised.

'He actually managed to sell rocks to people?' Ash thought wondering who was dumb enough to buy a rock.

'I don't know what's more unbelievable? That he learned that from traveling trainers or someone actually buying his rocks?' Janine thought.

"So what is that plan of yours to beat Brock pokemon?" Janine asked, crossing her arms.

"Well for it to work I need your help if you're willing?" Ash asked her, looking at her hoping she would agree or at least hear him out .

Janine stand's there silently looking as if judging him until finally "What kind of help?" Janine said as Ash smiled as he began explaining to explain his plan to her.

Half hour later Flint and Janine were inside the mill with Flint finishing last adjustments to the generator for their needs as Janine attached the tape and wires to Sparks checks.

"Ok, we are good on this end and ready." Flint told Ash as Janine walked out of the mill as we see Ash on top of the wheel holding onto the bar to give him a good grip with Kaleidoscope floating beside him he see's Janine having gotten in her position.

"Alright, Janine, are you ready?" Ash asks her.

"Let me just say this, I'm not going easy on you two despite what you two are doing." Janine told Ash as she grabbed Ariados pokeball.

"Right…" Ash nodded as he began to push the water wheel down with his legs as if walking up steps.

Inside the gauge on the generator began to move, fluxing up and down, a blue current of electricity traveled through the wires attached to Sparks who flinched as electricity entered his body.

"Pichuuu!" Sparks clamped his eyes shut, feeling the sting of the electricity.

"There Sparks. I know that going to Sting a little until you get used to electricity but you can't lose your concentration and control of your electricity in your body keep focusing on that power." Flint told a small electric mouse coaching him.

"Ariados!" Janine said, throwing her PokeBall as her Ariados appeared in front of her ready to battle.

"Aria!" Ariados leered at Butterfree who floated above it.

"Alright Kaleidoscope watch closely focuses first on Ariados." Ash told Kaleidoscope.

"Free! Free!" Butterfree said as he watched the spider pokemon

"Alright, Ariados use Psychic on that Rock." Janine pointed to a boulder not that far from them.

"Aria!" Ariados said as her eyes filled with power as boulder cover in blue layer of energy as boulder started to shake until slowly rises from ground until chunks of the boulder started to fall off landing on the ground

"That is enough Ariados." Janine called out

"Aria." Ariados said as she let boulder go as it dropped to the ground with crash and now surrounding the once larger boulder was large pile of smaller rocks

"That's what you need to learn Kaleidoscope, that is Psychic." Janine pointed out. "So try to do the same thing."

Kaleidoscope nodded as it looked at a similar boulder and tried to imitate what Ariados just did.

Having completed what was asked of her she takes a few steps back to watch Kaleidoscope. The butterfly pokemon seemed to be straining as it tried to copy what her Ariados did.

"On the smaller rocks, not a boulder." Janine clarified with slight annoyance rolling her eye's "Ash."

Ash looked at Janine while he still kept stepping. "Alright Kaleidoscope, focus your attention on one of the smaller rocks and imagine it floating in the air." Ash said, continuing to coach Kaleidoscope while powering the generator.

'He definitely does have drive.' Janine thought as she remembers him telling her his plan to teach Kaleidoscope a psychic type move since he apparently remembers his mom talking about Butterfree's ability to psychic moves.

"What's going on here?" a familiar voice spoke, Janine turned to see Misty walking up to her.

The red-head looked to see Ash stepping on the water wheel. "What's Ash doing?" Misty asked.

"Training." Janine simply said. "He's trying to power up Sparks, while giving me the displeasure of being his Butterfree training partner to learn Confusion."

"Alright then why did you agree to that then If you don't like it?" Misty asked.

Janine shugged. "I just didn't want to hear him constantly asking me for help." Janine said, although she did like the idea of being in charge of something even if it was training Ash's pokemon. best keep her skills sharp and remind her of…

Misty just looked at Ash. "I still think he should borrow one of mine." Misty muttered thinking it would be easier for Ash and them.

"Well, he decided to carve his own path whether he succeeds or fails, it purely falls on him." Janine answered looking at Misty. "Like I said before, what's the point of being a trainer if you take the easy way out."

Ash gritted his teeth as he continued to step on the wheel. "Hang in there Sparks as long as you're able to keep going, so am I."

"Piiichuu!" Sparks screeched as the electricity continued to pour into him.

Flint looked at the gauge and saw it was half way, before looking back at Sparks as Pichu kept taking in more electricity. 'Just a little more… let's see this hidden power you have deep down.' just then the gauge had finally reached full.

"Alright, stop." Flint told Ash.

Before Ash could stop Sparks called out. "Picha, Pi!" Sparks called out, Flint looked at Sparks who had a determined look on his face.

"Sparks…" Ash uttered, not stopping, he looked at his starter who looked back at him. The two gazed into each other's eyes. It was like they were having a silent conversation. Ash smiled and nodded. "If you aren't going to stop then I won't either Sparks." as he continued to walk on the wheel.

"If you keep going, Sparks might die." Flint told the boy with urgency.

"Ugh, being a trainer is about taking risks right?" Ash asked, which got Flint's attention. "Even if it's a possibility, me and Sparks will take it!"

Flint looked at the boy surprised then back at Sparks who clenched his eyes shut as the electricity continued to pour into the small rodent. He had never seen this kind of determination from any trainer and pokemon did not sense that one time years ago.

'These two there is no doubt about who they are now.' Flint thought now knowing who these two are for sure.

Sparks' body began to glow bright yellow as the energy built inside of the electric rodent had reached critical max, as the generator began to smoke and crackle Flint saw this and began to back away before he rushed out of the mill.

"Everyone get clear!" Flint shouted, getting all three kids attention, Ash and Misty immediately understood what he meant, Ash stopped stepping on the wheel and jumped off and ran away.

"Come Janine!" Misty shouted, grabbing the Ninja girl's arm and pulled her away. Ariados and Kaleidoscope followed after.

"Piiiiichhuu!" Sparks screeched, throwing his tiny arms out unleashing a powerful blast of electricity that shined through the various holes in the mill before the mill itself exploded from the force of the power as the light lit up the entire area.

---

The next day

Inside the pokemon center Nurse Joy could be seen taking care of her morning duties before the center opened, letting people both in and out.

'I hope that kid didn't take his loss too hard.' Nurse Joy thought about having not seen him since yesterday morning as she flipped a switch as doors unlocked and opened.

Just then Ash, Misty and Janine entered the center while Flint remained right out her poke center.

"Excuse me, could you please heal my pokemon." Ash asked her politely.

"Oh sure." Nurse Joy smiled at him setting a tray down for him

Ash nodded, placing his pokeballs and Sparks onto the try. Nurse Joy bowed before she took them to the clinic to be checked up on.

"Now that you have Sparks, powered up, are you really going to battle today?" Misty asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Janine said, leaning against the counter. "You may have powered up your pokemon, but there is still the issue of Sparks' endurance and Kaleidoscope hasn't mastered Confusion yet."

"I understand but there's another reason why I have to battle Brock now, a more personal reason." Ash said, clenching his fist.

Janine looked at Ash and she had an idea what it was. "I already gave my thoughts on it. Do what you must." Janine said calmly

"Well I personally still think you're not ready but at this point I know you won't listen to me so good luck." Misty said to Ash who nodded

That is when Nurse Joy returned with Ash pokemon setting the tray in front of him "Alright here they and good to go." she said.

"Pichu." Sparks greeted Ash and jumped on his shoulder.

"Thank you Nurse Joy." Ash told grabbing his PokeBalls.

Other than that, Nurse Joy got a more serious look on her face as she grabbed a pen and piece of paper and began writing something down as a Chansey came by.

"Chansey, could you please give this to Eric for me?" Nurse Joy asks the pokemon holding out the piece of paper.

"Chansey?" Asked the pokemon.

"Don't worry, I'm only leaving for a bit." Nurse Joy smiled and winked.

"Chansey." Chansey nodded as she took the paper and she went along with the note.

Nurse Joy quickly got changed into her civilian wear along with grabbing something from her locker having feeling she will need it. With that she left center making her way to the gym she passed by Flint and stopped in her tracks.

"Aren't you going to go see Ash and Brock's match?" Nurse Joy asked Flint.

"I don't think so." Flint replied.

"I don't know which one of you frustrated me more, you or her?" Nurse Joy said frowning, with nothing more to say she left Flint alone to his thoughts.

Flint looked at the retreating form of Nurse Joy and sighed. 'Maybe a peak wouldn't hurt' Flint thought as he walked toward the gym.

---

As the group reaches the gym Ash sees a familiar face that was pacing in front of the door.

"Domino? What are you doing?" Ash asked the girl, startling her as lose her grip on her papers as she quickly went to pick them up.

"O-Oh hey Ash." Domino greeted with a stutter as she picked up the last of her papers.

Misty looked at the girl with suspicion, she didn't look that much older than her or Ash, she looked around 12 or 13. "Ash, who's this girl?" Misty asked.

"Oh she a reporter, she watched me and Brock's match yesterday and we kinda bumped into each other afterwards." Ash explained.

'So that's where our little eavesdropper went and who she was listening to.' Janine thought keeping a neutral look studying the woman.

"It's nice to meet you both, my name's Domino, I'm a freelance journalist." Domino greeted the two, she observed that the orange hair was one or more actually Misty from Cerulean Gym, she wondered why she was here so far from her gym especially given its current state? But she doesn't seem like she will be an issue as body is already relaxing, seeming to accept what she was told.

'The other one I can already see is going to require a more cautious approach.' Domino thought as unlike the Cerulean Gym leader that other information is a lot more limited but from what she got from their database she is going to be more aware of her actions to protect her cover as her eyes harden behind her glasses for a moment staring at Janine then putting on a smile.

"It's nice to meet you too." Misty replied.

"... Greetings." Janine simply said.

"So what are you doing back here?" Ash asked, he would have thought she left the city the previous day.

"Well I thought I could try again to ask Brock here about that trainer that came through here before." Domino explained

"Trainer?" Misty asked, looking towards Ash.

"I kinda have had a flop of jobs, and I heard rumors of a strong trainer from Pallet coming through here so I decided to try and write an article on him or her." Domino explained while rubbing the back of her head.

"Strong trainer?" Janine muttered before turning to Ash, focusing on him for a moment before she turned back Domino. "If you want a strong trainer there are objectively better options for you to write about."

Ash glared at Janine, for that jab. "Janine!" Ash growled.

"I simply stated the truth that there are stronger trainer's than you." Janine said dismissively, waving her hand.

"You didn't have to word it like that." Ash muttered

"So you want to write a story about that trainer, why? Couldn't you write about a more well known trainer? Wouldn't it be easier to find them then?" Misty asked.

"You may have a point, however I think what really sells is the story of an up and coming trainer. One unknown kid coming out of obscurity to win it and make a name for himself." Domino said playing on drama

"Also, the time I did that at my last job I got the story scooped and then was blamed when the story flopped. So I thought what better to write about then an upstart trainer" Domino explained while raising her arms up high.

"So basically you're just gonna find a random kid and hoping they are actually competent." Janine said cause everyone to sweat drop at her words.

"That's kind of a gamble…." Ash muttered, he understood she was desperate for a story but that seemed a little too risky but he believes that she knows what she is doing.

"So you're here to ask Brock about any upstarts that have been through here lately?" Misty questioned regaining her composure.

"Yeah if gonna be apart of the league he has to gone here so I-" only for her to interrupted by Janine

"If so, why are you still out here?" Janine questioned her.

"I'm trying to think of the right words to say, I've already screwed up a few times and this might be my last chance before my lead to him dries up. Plus a reporter needs to wait for just a moment to take their shot." Domino said, rubbing the back of her head.

'She probably lost her nerve again.' Ash thought having a guess why she was out here and was pacing back and forth, she was worried about failing..

"A-anyway, you're back for a rematch right?" Domino asked Ash.

Ash nodded. "Yep, and this time me and Sparks won't lose. I have a plan this time around." Ash smiled pointing at himself with his thumb.

"Pi, Pichu." Sparks nodded ready to battle.

"W-Well I hope you do win." Domino said, giving him a smile which Ash couldn't help but appreciate her encouragement.

"We'll just see if it works, considering you haven't taken the time to perfect what you learned the previous night." Janine frowned, although she was still surprised by the result of what Sparks did even if he was charged to the max by the generator that kind of power should be impossible for the small electric rodent.

"I'll worry about that, after the battle." Ash said as he walked past Domino and up to the door. Taking a deep breath he placed both hands on the door and pushed it open. "I'm back! And I am ready for a rematch."

Brock appeared before the group and with his arms crossed. "Personally I would advise you to leave given how the last attempt went and actually train."

"I'm not leaving until I win my badge." Ash remarked.

Brock frowned, not believing this kid would bother to challenge him again so soon, but he had guts, he'll give him that. "Fine, I accept your challenge." Brock said.

Both Ash and Brock took their positions at both ends of the field, Misty, Janine and Domino who had gotten her camera out were sitting in the stands, Ash noticed that all of Brock's little brothers and sisters were in the stands. He guessed they wanted to see their brother battle today or maybe they always watch and he simply didn't notice yesterday.

"Like previously each of us will use two pokemon battle ends once one side pokemon are unable to continue do you understand?" Brock said to Ash staring him down

"Yes." Ash said, his face stern.

"This should be interesting." Janine said her arms crossed with her right leg over her left. She didn't care if Ash won or lost, but she did wonder what he even planned besides using confusion cause if that was it this battle won't last long either way it's time to see if their battle in the forest was fluke or not.

"Mind if I sit here?" a voice said quietly

They turned to see Nurse Joy in her Civilian outfit, Misty, Janine and Domino were confused while the kids were happy to see her.

"Aunt Joy." the oldest of the kids, Forest uttered quietly not wanting to disturb his older brother's match.

"Aunt Joy?" Misty said in surprise.

"You're there Aunt?" Jaine said just as confused as Misty.

"What are you doing here Nurse Joy? Also how are you connected to" Domino asked, surprised to see Nurse Joy at a Gym match but kept to her cover.

"If it's alright could we save that for after the battle?" Nurse Joy asked them politely.

The group nodded and turned back to the battle Brock had chosen his first pokemon. "Geodude, I chose you!" Brock shouted throwing a pokeball onto the field, in flash of white light a rock pokemon appeared.

"Geodude!"

"Alright, Kaleidoscope, I choose you!" Ash said after turning his hat around and throwing his Pokeball.

"Free Free!" Kaleidoscope said as he was sent out.

"A Butterfree? You haven't learned from last time?" Brock said, thinking that Ash had made a foolish choice.

"Then come to us and find out if you have the guts." Ash grinned.

"Free!" Kaleidoscope taunted Geodude to battle him.

"He's finished." Misty said not having much faith in Ash at the moment.

"How can you say that if the battle hasn't even started yet." Nurse Joy asked Misty.

"Base Type advantage isn't everything." Janine asked Misty, wondering how Misty was a gym leader if she didn't understand that type isn't always everything.

"Hmm, I wonder how he'll be able to get around." Domino said, although she too wasn't sure if Ash even had a chance after what she saw yesterday, she didn't think much of Ash and wasn't thinking much now but if there's one thing she knows looks can be deceiving.

Brock wasted no time and called for an attack. "Geodude! Rock Throw!"

"Geodude." Geodude shouted as it dug its hands into the arena and pulled out two rocks tightly gripped in each hand and threw the first one at Kaleidoscope.

"Kaleidoscope dodge to the left then counter with Confusion!" Ash shouted.

Brock was taking back, he knew Confusion was a Psychic move and that would be devastating to his rock pokemon. 'If he had this from the beginning, why didn't he use it before? Unless he just learned it but that's impossible his Butterfree couldn't have learned it in such a short time.' Brock thought.

Kaleidoscope flew to the left to avoid the rock heading towards him and tried to use Confusion as blue Aura cover rock pokemon but other than that it didn't seem to work.

"Geo?" Geodude muttered while looking at itself confused.

"Huh? It seems your attack has fizzled." Brock stated, for a second he was actually worried.

"This is what I figured would happen." Janine said not too surprised .

"Just like I thought…" Misty sighed, she had seen this coming even before they entered the gym.

"But that wasn't too bad, the move may have not worked but… he was close to using it." Domino said, although she did find it foolish that would even attempt a move that he was just starting to master.

'Dammit why did it fail? Was Geodude moving too much for Kaleidoscope to get grip? If that it

how would I get him to stay still? Wait, of course that would be perfect!' Ash thought having gotten an idea.

"You really are a beginner, why would you enter a gym battle and attempt to use a move that your pokemon doesn't seem to have a grasp of yet?" Brock calmly remarked.

Ash smiled and pointed at Brock. "Oh don't worry, I guarantee Kaleidoscope will master it in this battle and your Geodude will be reduced to a lawn ornament."

"He's crazy." Forest said believing this guy.

"No way he can beat big brother." Suzie said.

Unknown to everyone Flint was watching the battle from the Shadows behind them. He was intrigued by how the match had started and was wondering how it would end.

"Alright, Kaleidoscope use Sleep Powder!" Ash called as his pokemon began flap his wings hard as green powder came of them

"Kids take a few steps back away from the railing." Nurse Joy asks the kids, wanting to make sure they don't accidentally breathe in powder. Misty, Janine and Domino did the same move back.

"Geodude quickly uses back to back Rock throws and knocks that bug out the sky!" Brock said, moving his arm to cover his mouth and nose.

"Geodude!" Geodude began to threw multiple rocks at Kaleidoscope who barely managed to avoid being hit by the rocks as powder began to rain down around Geodude.

"That's it, Kaleidoscope, send it off to dreamland." Ash said while covering his mouth and nose, thanks to its Compound eyes ability, Kaleidoscope's accuracy was spot on.

"Geo, Geodude!" Geodude stopped throwing rocks and covered its mouth trying to keep itself from inhaling the sleep power, however it was too late and it fell asleep face first on the ground.

"Geodude!" Brock called to his pokemon trying to get it to wake up.

"Well he put him to sleep but that won't knock him out he just eventually wakes up." Misty said not seeing what Ash did, only seeing delaying tactics.

Janine and Domino on other hand both remain silent and simply watch the battle.

"Free! Free!" Kaleidoscope flapped his wings, happy that his attack worked.

Ash grinned and pointed at Kaleidoscope. "Alright! This time for sure, use Confusion." Ash called out, however unknown to him and the others, a dark blue energy came from Ash's hand for a mere second.

Kaleidoscope suddenly pinched, feeling a strange sensation through his body, glowing blue for a second just as its eyes glowed blue. "Free!" it bellowed, surprising everyone at the sudden call.

A glow began to overtake the sleeping Geodude and unlike last time, the rock pokemon was slowly lifted into the air much to everyone's shock.

"How?" Misty questioned, she couldn't understand before it failed. Why did it work this time?"

"Clever." Janine said Ash had used Sleep powder to keep Geodude still so he would be easier to lift using Confusion.

Flint just looked at the action, impressed with the boy's strategy.

As Kaleidoscope kept lifting Geodude higher everyone could see Kaleidoscope was showing strain from using the move making clear he can't keep it up much longer.

"Now!" Ash called out.

"Freeeee!" Kaleidoscope yelled as he used his grip to slam Geodude into the ground and as the cloud of dust vanished Geodude could be seen out cold on ground.

"Ahh, Geodude…" Brock muttered in surprise, not believing that Geodude had lost the battle.

"He did it." Nurse Joy smiled, she was a little sad Geodude had lost the match but that was how it went in pokemon battles. She was impressed how Ash used Sleep Powder and Confusion together was a clever combo for someone just starting.

Janine simply nodded with what she thought being proven true having used sleep powder to make Geodude similar to the rock that Kaleidoscope had practiced with letting him get a win.

"Great job Ash." Domino called out while thinking that was a decent plan, nothing amazing by experience trainer standards but for his skill level good move.

"He did it." Misty quietly said getting small smile on her face

"Oh man… Geodude lost." Suzie lowered her head.

"Don't worry, Brock will win." Salvador said.

"Yeah he won't beat-" Forest start to say

Brock returned Geodude to its pokeball, he looked at his fallen pokemon before taking out his second pokeball.

"Onix! I chose you!" Brock shouted, throwing the pokeball into the air in a flash of light, the rock snake appeared ready to battle.

"-Onix!" Forest finished

"Yorrge!" Onix bellowed.

"Free…" Kaleidoscope whimpered slightly at the size of Onix.

Flint who was still in the shadows smirked. 'Now, the real battle begins. Show us what you're really made of.' Flint thought.

'Ok Confusion is definitely not gonna work on Onix besides Kaleidoscope doesn't look like he has much left to give.' Ash thought

"Alright, Kaleidoscope Poison Powder!" Ash said

"Kids." Nurse Joy said again as everyone moved away.

"Onix, use Dig." Brock called out.

"Yuurge!" Onix called out, as it slammed its face into the ground and submerged into it.

"Free Free?" Kaleidoscope muttered, stopping its attack looking around for its opponent.

"Pichu…" Sparks looked around not sure

"Huh? Where'd it go?" Ash questioned looking around, but he couldn't tell where the rock snake pokemon was. 'This is bad, he's tunneling underground, we can't even attack him when he is like that.'

"This is bad, now Ash can't even attack it." Misty said Ash was now vulnerable and Brock had the element of surprise.

"Onix! Skull Bash!" Brock shouted.

With a smash, Onix emerged from the ground right below hit the Butterfly pokemon hard. "Freee!" Kaleidoscope wailed in pain, as it flew backwards and landed on the ground with a hard thud.

"Ahh! Kaleidoscope!" Ash rushed to his pokemon and picked him up. "Are you ok?"

"Free…" Kaleidoscope whimpered.

"Pichu, Pi." Sparks spoke.

Ash smiled. "You did a great Kaleidoscope, take a long rest." Ash said, returning him to his pokeball.

"Ok, you ready?" Ash asks Sparks looking at his partner who nodded.

"I'll admit, you're not as weak as I first thought." Brock admitted, he could definitely see that Ash wasn't as bad as he first thought. "However, your Pichu is still no match for my Onix."

"We'll see about that Brock, my Pichu is more powerful than you think." Ash grinned, in truth he wasn't really sure if this would work there was still a chance they'd lose but that wouldn't stop them from giving their all.

"Pichu!" Sparks ran onto the field, their cheeks crackling with electricity.

"This is it, let's see if they have what it takes." Janine frowned.

'Yes, let's see what they truly can do.' Domino thought as she raised her camera.

"Hmm…" Nurse Joy hummed, she didn't know what Ash was doing as she looked more at him and Sparks, he almost reminded her of a trainer from a long time ago.

'This is it kid, confirm what I think of you.' Flint thought, waiting to see if Ash was who he thought he was.

"Onix, Rock Throw!" Brock called out.

Onix opened it's mouth and fired multiple rocks at Sparks, the small rodent used it's small size and speed to avoid each of the rocks until one hit him in the head knocking him to the ground.

"Pichu..!" Spark called out.

"Sparks! Are you ok!" Ash asked his starter.

Sparks slowly got to his feet and turned to Brock and Onix with a tick mark on its forehead, it seemed to be pissed. Flint saw this and grinned and confirmed it. Misty, Janine, Domino and Nurse Joy noticed this as well.

"Onix once more Rock throw!" Brock called out

"Sparks time to see if that training pays off counter with Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted.

Two attacks meet and Sparks' thunder bolt goes through the rocks and hits Onix like last time. It is unaffected by attack but it is so powerful it bounces off him and hits the walls and ceiling of the gym.

"It's no different than before." Brock said thinking he had won.

"Come on, Sparks dig deep! Show him your true power!" Ash called out.

Sparks head shot up. "Piiichhhuuu!" Sparks then released more power as the little rodent was using everything he had, Brock and everyone in the gym covered their eyes as the electricity became so bright that it blinded them

"Yourrrrgge!" Onix bellowed in actual pain, Sparks thunderbolt was somehow penetrating past his body defenses as it was consumed in the electricity.

Until finally Sparks stopped, unable to keep up the attack anymore as he was breathing heavily, Onix on the other hand was still standing but was gravely injured and looked ready to collapse.

"ONIX!" Brock yelled as he turned to Sparks realizing he needed to stop that attack.

"Youurrgge…" Onix whimpered.

Janine looked at Sparks with real shock, she didn't expect a little Pichu to have that much power, was it from the generator? Or was it the hidden power that Ash and Misty talked about? 'Is this really it? The power that destroyed the Viridian Pokemon Center?'

Domino too was flabbergasted, she had never seen anything like it before. 'So this is what Jenny along with Jessie and James reported…' She was now seeing why the boss was interested in the boy and his Pichu.

'If it were a Pikachu, that attack would have been a definite KO.' Flint thought, Ash and Sparks continued to surprise him.

"Onix."

"Chaa.." Sparks breathed heavily.

"Yourrgg…" Onix breathed heavily as well, both pokemon looked to be at their limits.

"This is it, the next attack will decide the match." Nurse Joy said, amazed at how this battle played out.

"Yeah…" Misty nodded, wondering how this battle would end.

"Onix, you alright?" Brock asked, concerned, surprised by the amount of damage that was done to him.

"Yourrgge…" Onix weakly nodded its head.

"Sparks, can you keep going?" Ash asked, seeing how exhausted he looked.

"Pi… Pi…" Sparks weakly nodded while breathing heavily.

"Onix let's finish this now use D-" Brock tried to call out, however the sprinkler system suddenly turned on and water began to rain on the field.

"Yourrrge!" Onix cried out, in pain as the water poured all over its body.

"Why are the sprinklers going off!?" Forest asked confused and now scared for Onix safety

"Sparks attack, must have triggered them." Janine answered thinking it was either from direct hit from attack or possibly creating a small fire either way the results would still be the same.

Nurse Joy quickly ran to turn off the system as Onix was now soaked in water as more kept covering him causing him pain.

"Ash, this is your chance, rock and ground types are weak against water and being covered in that water turned Onix into a lightning rod." Misty told Ash.

Ash nodded as he raised his hand "Sparks, use Thunder-" but before he was finished a hand grabbed him stopping him in place

'Wait, what is this feeling? It's holding me back, is it because I don't want to finish the match?' Ash thought having closed his eyes.

"Ash, the kids are on you." Misty called out.

Ash opened his eyes and looked down and saw that all 10 of Brock's siblings were holding onto him, and they all looked angry. "Huh? Hey let me go." Ash demanded.

"You leave Onix alone, you big bully." Cindy told Ash.

"Trust me I'm no bully." Ash remarked, wondering how to get out of this situation.

"Hey stop, this is an official match, you all can't get involved." Brock spoke up.

"But Brock, Onix means alot to you and we hate to see him hurt." Suzie said.

"That doesn't mean you can simply get in the way of this match." Nurse Joy said she can understand how the kids felt but this was against the rules.

"Brock, as the Gym Leader you can't let family get in the way of your job. Those kids doing this is an automatic victory for the challenger." Janine told Brock.

"That's right." Misty added agreeing with Janine.

"No!" Flint stepped out of the shadows, getting everyone's attention. "This match will continue," he said before turning to the kids. "Release the challenger, and allow the battle to continue."

"Flint…" Nurse Joy uttered she didn't think he would show up.

Brock looked at the man and recognized his voice. "D-dad?" Brock stuttered, in shock.

"Dad?" Ash muttered, looking up at Flint in shock.

Flint removed his hat and his beard which was fake, revealing himself to be an older version of Brock only with gray hair. "This match will continue, and you both will give it all you got." Flint told Ash and Brock, the man looked at his younger children.

"Release Ash and let your brother do his job, this is what happens in a Gym Match."

All the kids looked up at their father who none of them had seen. "Do as your father says." Nurse Joy told them.

The kids looked at Brock who nodded, reluctantly they released Ash and backed away from him. The young trainer looked at Brock who had a look of determination before donning his own.

Janine looked up at Flint, she couldn't believe all this time he was Brock's father but it did explain his experience with Pokemon and him knowing so much about Brock.

Domino also looked at him, this was an odd turn of events she never expected that this old man was the current Gym Leader's father.

"Ready Sparks." Ash smiled.

"Pichuuu!" Sparks spoke up ready to end this battle.

"Onix?" Brock asked his pokemon.

"Youurrge!" Onix nodded ready to end it as well.

"No going back Brock, I want your best." Ash called out pointing at his opponent.

Brock grinned he hadn't felt this excited for a battle in so long. "Right back at you, Ash." Brock called back.

Sparks and Onix leered at each other both waiting for their trainers to call a command. "Onix Bind!" Brock called out.

Despite its massive size, Onix was faster than it looked; it quickly closed the distance and tried to coil around Spark. "Sparks, use Quick Attack to dodge." Ash called out.

"Pichu!" Sparks used its speed and small size to evade Onix's Bind attack, the electric mouse landed on Onix's body and began to run up it. "Shake it off Onix." Brock said.

"Yorrugge!" Onix roared as he violently shook his body, trying to get Sparks off him. Sparks held on as tightly, and saw Onix was about to smash into a rock on the field.

"Sparks jump off!" Ash called out.

"Pichu!" Sparks jumped off Onix's body just as it slammed into the rock creating a dust cloud. Sparks landed on all four paws as it looked at Onix who reeled its head back while shaking it.

"Those two are great." Flint grinned, taking his seat besides Nurse Joy.

"So you finally decide to reveal yourself." Nurse Joy said to her friend. "So what changed?"

Flint looked at Ash and Sparks, Sparks dodged another bind while jumping on a rock before jumping off as Onix smashed it's head into it completely destroying the rock. "Let's just say that boy and his Pichu remind me of someone." Flint ominously said, the kids were sitting near their father who they hadn't seen in a long time confused and curious why he was back and where he had been.

"So you knew that Flint was Brock's dad?" Misty asked Nurse Joy, now seeing why the two knew each other so well.

Nurse Joy nodded. "Yes, he practically begged me not to tell his own children about him, it made me upset that couldn't even bother to reveal himself. He and his wife… I don't know which one of them is worse." She said glaring at Flint, the man knew that deserved the glare.

"So you just watch these kids from afar huh?" Janine asked, she didn't care about Flint's family matters.

"There's a reason why I never told Brock, but I'll explain when this is over." Flint told Janine.

"Now this is going to be a scoop." Domino said, although she wasn't really interested in Flint's story.

Sparks landed in front of Ash, Ash saw that Sparks was now at his limit and could faint at any time. 'Damn, we need to end this fast.' Ash then noticed that Onix was slowing down as well it was time to end this,

"Sparks, put everything you got into your next attack, Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted, punching the air.

"Onix, Dragon Breath!" Brock commanded.

"Piichhuu!" Sparks unleashed his Thunderbolt.

"Youurrge!" Onix roared as it breathed and unleashed a purple blast, intercepting the thunderbolt and creating a standstill, both attacks pushing back forth.

Eventually the ThunderBolt broke through the attack and hit Onix,creating a smoke cloud. Sparks fell on one knee, the smoke cleared revealing Onix was still standing. Both pokemon and trainers stared at each other for what seemed like eternity.

"Yourrrge…" Onix bellowed weakly falling sideways and hit the ground with a hard thud shaking the room.

Silence filled the room, nobody even knew what to say until Flint spoke up. "Onix is unable to battle, the winner is Ash from Pallet Town." Flint pointed at Ash.

"W-We… we did it…" Ash stuttered in surprise, but then smiled. "We did it!" Ash jumped and pumped his fist, he ran over to Sparks and picked him up. "We did it Sparks, we won!"

"Pichu…" Sparks gave a weak smile, happy that they had won.

"I can't believe it, he actually did it." Misty said she was at a loss for words; she never thought that Ash would win even despite all the odds stacked against him, and she could help but be happy that he won.

Janine actually smiled. 'So it wasn't a fluke, you really are something Ash…' The ninja girl now has a bit more respect for the rookie trainer.

Domino glared under her persona, she didn't expect this to happen since she saw this boy could be a threat much like the boss had said he was and his Pichu, its power was definitely something to be wary of. 'This kid… he is very dangerous and I'll keep an eye on him.' Domino thought.

Brock was tending to Onix. "You did great Onix, you deserve a nice rest." Brock smiled before returning his pokemon to its pokeball. He looked at Ash and smiled.

"Hahahah, we did it." Ash was still cheering, while swinging Sparks around.

Brock then walked up to Ash. "Congratulations, despite all odds you defeated me and won." Brock said

"Thanks." Ash said.

"As proof of your victory, I present to you the Boulder badge." Brock said as he held up a badge that looked like a simple gray octagon.

Ash looked at the Badge and picked it up. "Thanks, and I got the Boulder Badge!" Ash shouted holding his newly obtained badge in the air.

"You both did great." Flint said as he and the others approached the two. "The level of skill you two have displayed is unmistakable."

Brock just looked at his dad, he really didn't know what to say… deep down he wanted to punch his dad for literally abandoning him and his little brothers and sisters but chose not to because he didn't want them to see him hurt their dad. "Dad… how long have you been here?" Brock asked in a calm voice trying to keep his emotions under control.

Flint sighed. "For at least 1 year… I know what I've done isn't good and I wouldn't blame you for hating me." Flint told his eldest. "Watching you kids from afar was hard for me but… I was too ashamed to face you."

"Is it really it?" Nurse Joy asks when she then sees Brock had turned to her.

"Lilian, did you know about this?" Brock asked her as she closed her eyes.

"Yes." Brock express didn't change. "Why? Why didn't you tell me that my Dad was here?"

"I didn't think it was right to give him an easy out after what he did and was doing. But more important If I had told you, you would try to reconnect with him only just for your siblings sak and knowing him he probably would have avoided you out of his "shame" adding more stress to you that didn't need or deserve." Nurse Joy said, lowering her head in shame.

Brock just looked at Lilian with a straight face, before Flint spoke up.

"Son, don't blame Lilian. She only did what she thought was right and I did ask her not to tell, so the blame falls right on me." Flint said he didn't want his son or the rest of his kids to resent Lilian after everything she did, while he and his wife needed to take their rest she was there to keep an eye on Brock and had helped him take care of kids, a thing he was very grateful for.

"Lilian I understand I know you only did what felt best for my family. You were always watching out for them and helping me care for them while teaching me skills so I could care for their needs on my own and for that I will forever owe you debt." Brock told her

Nurse Joy had tears in her eyes, happy that Brock didn't hate her. "Thank you, I'm really happy Brock." She said the two then shared a hug together, the kids also joined in the hug both Misty and Ash couldn't help but smile at the sight while Janine and Domino had more neutral looks and Flint wiped away a tear at sight.

Brock smiled as the two broke the hug before turning to his father, getting a more stern look. "Dad… both you and mom…" Brock didn't even know what to say without getting angry.

Ash, Misty, Janine and Domino just watched this. They felt like they were caught right in the middle of the family drama and hearing things that were better left unsaid.

Brock took a deep breath and released it before he finally spoke "I don't hate either you or mom, Dad, but I just wish you both would be there for us." Brock said, clenching his figure. "I don't care if I had to take care of everyone, I was willing to do it for them. But what they need is a father and mother who would be there for them. When you and mom left…"

"Wait? You're mom's alive?" Ash said in surprise, before turning to Flint. "You said your wife/his mother had died."

"Flint…" Nurse Joy groaned, her face buried in her palm. "She's not dead, that wife of his can't stay still for long and she just left out of nowhere After it got too "stressful" as put in her letter."

"Ahahaha…" Flint rubbed the back of his. "Well I said she was in a better place than she was before."

"When you say better place, it's obvious people would think she's dead!" Nurse Joy shouted. "Rock for brains! Here this is the "a better place" he was talking about" Nurse Joy said and handed Ash a postcard that he and others looked at a postcard she handed them.

"Wait, is this from a Cruise!?" Ash yelled seeing a fair skin woman with light brown hair that somewhat curled in the front wearing a long blue sundress along with two other women beside her on deck of what looked like a Cruise ship that when Janine swiped the card from him and began reading it

"Dear… Family" Janine said instead of listing off everyone's name that was written their "Things are going great I have found my passion interpretive dance?" Janine raised her eyebrows at that as Nurse Joy shook her head in disappointment as Janine continued "I feel so free able to express myself in such a heartfelt way especially along with my two new friends who help me get limber and relaxed together before we express ourselves." Ash's group just looked at each other with uncertainty with that wording while Brock just shivered as Janine continued.

"I hope things are going great for you all, see you all soon love your mom. PS give your father the included photos along with the other's I sent you when he gets home." Janine finished

"She is such an amazing woman to think of us like that." Flint said, wiping away a tear of joy.

"How are you crying? How was that thinking of them!" Nurse Joy asked about massaging her temples. "You two are such… oh…" she refrained from saying anything, knowing that it wouldn't be good or appropriate.

"Are you kidding me? Sounds like you two are neglectful parents." Misty frowned, not believing what she was hearing.

"Or at oblivious ones at least." Janine added

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Nurse Joy frowned, Flint and his wife weren't bad people at all but the two were just had bad habits that made them oblivious to their kids, not long after Flint left his wife decided to go on a cruise around the world out of "necessity" and while they were gone Brock had to take care of Forest and the others, and she took on the duty of checking on them from time to time and helping Brock learn skills needed to care for his siblings.

"Honestly if I didn't know her better I would say she was malicious but it's just she lacks any ability to take responsibility if it's not something that currently interests her I lost count how many times she wrote I found my passion listening to something different than the previous card." that one only reason's she haven't reported either them is that they do love their children and care for them they are just horrible at caring part.

'I guess I should be lucky that my mom isn't like that along with my dad.' Ash thought, knowing his mom would never do what Brock's does and his father wouldn't either, he would try to be in their lives as much as possible.

"But what did my Lolo mean by photos?" Flint asked remember that being mentioned

Nurse Joy pulled out a photo from her pocket. Brock moved his head away as they saw it. Flint's jaw dropped.

The photo was of Lolo in a form fitting leotard that hugged her body tightly and drew attention to most prominent features as she layed on the ground legs spread as stretched forwards while perfectly balancing a shrunk PokeBall on her chest and giving a seductive wink in the photo.

"Ohhhh" Flint was lost for words as he started drooling.

Nurse Joy rolled her eyes at the man's action. "Your wife has been sending these with the post cards highlighting her newest interest's and because of that I had to have their Mail sent to pokemon center after a certain incident. Also the sad part was that this was the most wholesome one among them."

"Ahhh." Brock looked away, he didn't want to see his mom like that and he didn't want the kids to see it either. He just couldn't believe what his mom would take.

"Can we see it?" Forest asked.

"Yeah yeah, I want to see mommy." Suzie asked eagerly.

"No way kiddos." Brock said, not really wanting the kids to see their mom like that.

"Yes, trust your older brother, you don't want to see these sweeties." Nurse Joy told them.

Ash looked at the photo and couldn't help but blush seeing it, however Misty pulled him away. "Hey!" Ash shouted, wondering why Misty pulled him away.

"One of the rules of being a trainer, don't hit on another trainer's mom." Janine told Ash with a hand on her hips.

"How would you feel if your mom did something like that?" Misty said, giving him glare.

"My mom would never do something like that and besides dad wouldn't let her take a picture like THAT!" Ash said firmly.

"Are you sure?" Janine asked him as Ash hesitates for a few seconds.

---

Back in Pallet Town

"Acho!" Red sneezed as he grabbed a tissue blew his nose as we see he was wearing fake Pikachu ears and tail and just that as otherwise sat on his and his wife bed naked

"Are you all dear?" Delia asked from inside her closet.

"Yeah just sneeze, how are you doing? Are you ready?" Red asked hear the sound of stuff being moved around in their

"Yup, just looking for our special video camera I know I put back here somewhere." Delia called back as Red got a bit nervous when he heard her mention that camera.

"A-Are you sure that good idea wh-"

"There it is! You were saying "dear?" Delia asked as she started putting back stuff she moved

"Well I thinking that maybe making video of us might not be good idea I know we made some home movies back when we were younger but should we really be making more what if Ash fi-" only to interrupted be his wife again

"Oh Richard, you're worrying for nothing. Ash won't find these. I kept them out of his sight for years. Besides, I have a feeling you will be glad we made a video of this one." Delia said making her way made out her closest

"I'mmmmmmm" Red trailed off after seeing what Delia was wearing, large blue ears sticking out of the top of her head, a small stubby blue tail and long blue stockings. She was dressed as a female Nidoran with one of her hands on her hip while the other was holding the camera.

"I thought I would use my personal favorite one for tonight and if your little friend is speaking for you then you still like it too." Delia said, pointing out her husband's newly gained erection. "So still against making a movie together?"

"Well I guess there's no harm in making another home movie or two together again." Red said as his wife got a seductive smile on her face as she swayed her hips as walked over to him.

---

"H-He definitely w-wouldn't!" Ash said uncertainty while sweating a little.

"You don't sound confident." Janine said an eyebrow arched.

"Aahh…" Ash muttered, not even sure how to even answer.

"Y-You mention there were other's." Flint said nervously.

"Yes and why she thought sending them through the mail was a good idea. I will never know why she sent herself in what would be generous to call a bikini while sucking on a popsicle between her-." Nurse Joy ranted

"Lilian, please stop. I don't think I can handle what you're describing." Brock pleaded not needing anymore imagines like those in his head then he already has, along with not having the kids know about this.

Nurse Joy realized she once more went little further than she needed to as blushed out embarrassment, she quickly composed herself coaging into her fist. "Anyway this one is going where all the others went to the poke center incinerator." Nurse Joy said as she put

"Hey wait! You can't just incinerate my wife's posters!" Flint protested.

"Dad, mom shouldn't be sending us photos like that." Brock stated. "She really shouldn't be doing that and you should be mad at her for doing it. What if someone hits on her?"

"Well who wouldn't find your mother attractive? You should proud your can mom how she manage keep her body perfect shape like with her marshmallow soft yet wonderful firm b-"

"Dad! Don't say that in front of the kids!" Brock shouted, his dad just kept going, he didn't want Forest or the others to be traumatized by their dad's inappropriate words.

"You really should stop for your own sake." Janine frowned, this man definitely didn't have that much of a filter to talk about this infront of his children heck she didn't want to listen to it.

"You know part of me thinks I should be writing this all down for a story but another part of me is telling me I shouldn't for their shake." Domino smiled nervously, although under her persona she was blushing slightly from his description of his love life.

"I think he loves his wife a bit too much." Ash muttered still having a blush on his face,

"More like simps for her and honestly I'm wondering if she knows he likes this and left cause she knew he wouldn't be pissed?" Misty added also with a blush on her face, not wanting to hear anymore adults.

"No she does love him and the problem is that it causes two to get stuck in their own little world or more accurately hers. Forgetting about those around them" Nurse Joy told the two rubbing their forehead.

"Wait c-can't I just keep that one I-I haven't seen her for so long and I-?" Flint pleaded.

"No! You have a photo album at your house, I'm burning this like the other's." Nurse Joy frowned. "This isn't really setting a good example for the kids. With all different hobbies tried she just pick one or two stick to them and come home"

"Well you should admit that she is very brave to try so many different hobbies without fearing failure." Flint said wiping away some more tears

"Why can't motherhood be one of them?" Nurse Joy asked Flint.

"Dad…" Brock muttered, his mom and dad were just impossible at times.

Flint looked at Brock and coughed, knowing that he had gone too far off topic. "Yeah… Well, I will admit me and… sometimes your mother doesn't always make the best decisions… but I believe it's time I return home, and for you to leave home."

Brock and his siblings were surprised. "Dad… are you sure?"

Flint nodded. "You can go further than I ever could Brock, you won't reach your full potential by staying close to home. It's time you start your own journey."

"I actually do agree with him on that. i think that would be good for you, you always said you wanted to be a breeder right?" Nurse Joy asked with a smile.

Brock looked at Nurse Joy and nodded. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll follow my dream to be a pokemon breeder." Brock smiled, before he turned to his dad. "And if you're going to be staying here, then you and I have a lot to talk about, cause you're picking up the slack and learning how to sew and everyone needs it including their nutrition." brock said as began listing off everything he needs to know

"Ahh, you're going to have to write that down." Flint said nervously knowing he was in for a long list of things he would need to pick up.

"Don't worry I will be here to make sure you learn everything your son had to do while you and wife were gone. Also once your Wife hears your back she should be far behind returning to and once she is back three of us are gonna have a very very long chat together." Nurse Joy said with a smile that Flit could tell had some dark implications behind as she wrapped her one arm around his shoulder so he wouldn't go anywhere.

Ash, Misty, and the kids simply laughed at how Brock was explaining everything their dad would need to do, Janine just grinned while Domino frowned behind her persona.

---

Later that sun had begun to set, Ash, Misty, Janine and surprisingly Domino were now leaving Pewter City. Ash couldn't be happier, winning his first gym badge. "Hahaha, I finally got my first badge." Ash boasted.

"You had cut it close, if Sparks didn't tap into his hidden power you would have lost." Misty told him.

"Along with the sprinklers going off weakening Onix even more." Janine pointed out.

"Aww, you two just don't want to admit I did win fair and square with both Sparks and Kaleidoscope." Ash retorted.

"I'll admit I didn't expect Kaleidoscope to get such a firm grasp of Confusion just after seeing something similar to it last night. Though he could definitely improve, if keep up training pace from before he should be able to effectively use it before your next gym battle." Janine admitted.

"Why are you following us Domino?" Ash asked, the freelance journalist have been following them since they left Pewter

"Well, after seeing your battle with Brock, I decided to write my story about you." Domino smiled.

"You're kidding right?" Misty asked, wondering if Domino was joking.

"Nope, that match screamed the headline Underdog vs. the Kanto League against all odds, the underdog Ash Ketchum beats Gym Leader Brock with a Bug Pokemon and an Electric Pokemon." Domino said like she was writing an article. "Everyone loves an underdog story, and your success will help me out of my funk. If you don't mind?"

"Really? Of course you can. That would be great." Ash said, with a smile this could be a good chance to one up Gary, certainly he didn't have a story being written about his journey and maybe Domino's story can prove to the world that he really is his dad's son and not some pretender like Misty and Janine keep saying he is.

"A-ah, thank you!" Domino shook Ash's hand frantically. "You really gave me hope to get back on track to being a great journalist."

'On track? More like derail…' Janine thought she may have gained some respect for Ash however she knew that there were more powerful trainers out there than Brock.

"Hey!" A familiar voice called out, they all turned to see Brock running towards them and he had a backpack on.

"Brock?" Ash asked, he was surprised to see the Gym Leader.

Brock came to stop bending at the knees, taking a few breaths before he stood up straight. "S-sorry… but… can I ask you? Can I come with you all?" Brock asked, that took Ash and the others by surprise.

"If you don't mind me asking why come with us?" Ash asked Brock.

"After battling you and what my dad told, it helped me realize that there's more for me to do out there." Brock said before looking off in the distance. "You heard what my dream is right? My dream is to be a pokemon breeder, and staying in Pewter won't help achieve that dream. So I decided, I'm going to travel with you all and learn what the world has to offer and achieve my dream."

"I'm ok with actually I think it would be nice to have you around." Ash said he likes the idea of having another guy around to talk to so he isn't only surrounded by women.

"I don't mind." Misty said, not really seeing the problem with Brock joining it would be nice to have another Gym Leader around.

"A Gym leader added a bit more spice to this story." Domino said, but she didn't really care if he joined them on their journey, all that mattered was her mission.

"Don't care." Janine said not caring.

Brock smiled happily. "Thanks, I won't be a burden." Brock told them.

Ash then turned. "Alright! It's time to move on, next stop the second Gym!" Ash shouted before he ran ahead of everyone, not wanting to waste time.

"Wait, do you even know which way to go?" Misty yelled after him.

"Hey not too fast, I can't afford to lose any more of my supplies!" Domino yelled running after them so she didn't lose sight of them.

Brock could help but smile thinking this is going to be an interesting journey he then turns to Janine "Things definitely won't be boring with them around." Brock told her as he jogged to catch up with them leaving just Janine who then sprints to catch up with the others.

(With his first gym badge in hand and two more traveling companions as Ash makes his way to his next badge yet he is not only one with plans ahead of him.)

---

Red was currently watching the news while Delia and Ninda were making dinner, after their 'activity' Red so far there weren't that many reports on strange happenings that could have involved Team Rocket.

In the kitchen Delia was working putting their oil in the oven to cook, she set the timer before she walked into the living room. "Dinner should be done in about 45 minutes." Delia told her husband as she and Ninda each grabbed a tray, setting one in the kitchen and Ninda carrying the other outside for pokemon who couldn't physically come in.

"Thanks Blue." Red smiled, Delia sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Even after everything we did, you're still worried that they can come back." Delia asked her husband.

"Do you think we truly destroy them where they can't possibly come back?" He asked his wife, wanting her honest opinion.

Delia sighed "I want to say yes but I will admit sometimes I can't help but they one day appear on news again the only thing I can do is hope what we did was enough to ensure they can't return and ruin anyone else's lives." Delia said wanting the next generation including them not to be put through what they went through.

"And if it wasn't? I told you about what had happened back in Viridian, what Nurse Joy and Jenny told me and Green." Red stated, knowing that A Team Rocket did attack the Pokemon Center.

"If they do come back…" Delia said lowering her head for a moment before raising her head, her eyes hardened and filled with determination "Then we will make them regret it especially if they come after our son."

Red smiled knowing that Delia was right, just then Red's Xtransiver started ringing, taking it out he saw it was unknown, Delia looked at Red before he answered it. "Hello?" Red answered, an image popped up and he was surprised to see Flint. "Flint?! Oh my Arceus, I haven't seen you in what a decade and a bit, how are you doing?" Red said he was honestly surprised to see his old friend, they hadn't seen each other in a long time. The last thing he heard from him, he was on some training trip as people said.

"Hey Richard, long time no see and you too Delia, you're just as beautiful as the last time i saw you." Flint grinned.

"Oh, you're just as polite as the last time I saw you." Delia smiled. "So how's your wife doing? I haven't heard from her in a while."

"She is on her own journey whe-" Flint tried to explain.

"If you try to justify your wife leaving again on cruise I will hit you in the head with one of those rocks you tried selling to people." a voice on the screen said, causing Flint to flinch.

Hearing the voice, Red and Delia looked at eachother. "Is that Lilian?" Delia asked, a little confused.

"Hey, Delia, how have you been?" Lilian asked.

"Pretty good you?" Delia asked back.

"As I can while dealing with the mess that this Rock head and that water filled wife caused." Lilian answered.

"What happened?" Red asked, hoping it wasn't as bad as Lilian made it seem.

Outside their house we can see various wild pokemon and Red and Delia relaxing where even Ninda and Zard could be seen cuddling with each only to be interrupted by a sudden scream scaring away wild pokemon startling the owner pokemon who immediately recognized who caused it.

"SHE DID WHAT!" Delia shouted at the top of her lungs. "That's hardly an excuse, Flint! She got up and abandoned those kids! She shouldn't even be allowed to be called a mother! How could sh-" Delia trailed off gritting her teeth. "Nope this isn't going to stand."

Delia then saw Ninda poked her head in checking on her partner "Ninda come upstairs with me I will need your help with something." The Nidoqueen nodded and followed her upstairs as Red watched two go before turning back to the screen, Flint sweat nervously, as he began to explain.

"So let's get this straight, you pretty much camped right outside Pewter City for almost a year straight and you sold rock to passing trainer's and lived in the woods?" Red wanted to make sure he got everything right, and it was taking a lot to keep his anger under control.

"I had a cabin." Flint added as Lilian shook her head in annoyance.

"Guess neither of you really did change." Red said with a sigh, not saying that as a compliment.

"Hehehe, yeah…" Flint rubbed the back of his head knowing that he and his wife couldn't talk their way out of this.

'I haven't been in Gray's life that much since he was small, but I wouldn't do that to him nor Delia.' Red thought, upset that Flint and his wife would even do that to their kids and leaving Lilian to pick up the mess, disappointed didn't even come to describe how he felt right now.

"But my failures as father and husband is not why I called." Flint said, getting Red's attention. "I have to tell you-."

That when everyone hear stomping coming down the stairs and Red see's his wife coming down with travel bag around her shoulder as she carried down set of clothes and sneakers in her arms along with three PokeBalls laying on top of clothes

"Lilan, what's the name of that damn cruise." Delia demanded.

"Delia, don't even bother, even if you drag her back from it, she'll just do it again." Lilia said, waving her hand dismissively. "That's how she's always been."

"Not after I'm done giving her spanking for shit she pulls besides as mother I can't let this go." Delia said she was very disappointed in Lolo for abandoning her own children just because she couldn't handle it, she was just running from responsibility and failed as a mother.

"Delia..." Red got up and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I understand how you feel, but this is not our problem. She's a grown woman and she's going to have to deal with the consequences, don't waste your energy on chasing her."

"Richard they both need each other, the kids need a proper mother in their lives and Lolo needs to wake up and realize what she has before she loses and just having Lilian there for kids isn't gonna cut it. No offense to you Lilian" Delia said turning to Lilian

"None taken, they really do see me more as Aunt rather than mother." Lilian understands what she says as Delia turns to her husband.

"Please Richard I need your support for this if I don't try I won't be able to live with myself." Delia pleaded with him.

That when they hear another stomping sound from stairs but much lighter as they see Ninda and in one her hands is some of his clothes and shoes and in the other is Red traveling bag

"Heh, really?" Red chuckled, he already knew that she would drag him along "Alright seeing as they have no way to change your mind then I got your back like aways." Red said giving her smile

"Thanks Richard." Delia smiled happily and agreed to go with her.

"Hmmm, if you see her please go easy on her." Flint begged.

That earned a sour look from Delia. "Nope when I'm done with her that ass of her's is gonna be bright red." Delia said without an ounce of sympathy "Now Lilim what is the name of the Cruise?"

"The St. Anne." Lilian simply answered. "She always did want to go on it." Remembering Lolo wanting to go on that ship.

"St. Anne? Hearing about that ship takes me back." Red remembering the battle he once had on that ship and the news that Yellow's Raticate split the ship in half with a hyper fang looks like they repaired it.

"Then the St. Anne it is." Delia frowned, ready to give Lolo a piece of her mind.

"Before you go, I have to say." Flint spoke up, getting both their attention. "Your son is an amazing battler."

That got Red and Delia's attention, as Flint continued. "He kinda reminds me of you, the kid has good instincts and doesn't give up too easily."

Red smiled. "Well, he is our son after all." Happy to hear that Ash had won his first gym badge, and he couldn't wait to hear more about Ash's victories in the future.

"Yes, he makes me so proud." Delia smiled.

"How do you know he's really our son, considering there's many

"He actually got his Butterfree to use Confusion not long after seeing it once the previous night, and defeating my boy's Onix with a tiny Pichu." Flint said it reminded of how Red defeated his own Onix with Pika years ago. "If it was a Pikachu, the match would have ended easily."

"You saw Sparks' hidden power?" Red asked in a serious tone.

Flint nodded. "Yeah, first hand when I helped power up Sparks, he completely destroyed the water mill."

"Heh, once he hits his later stages I'm pretty sure his power will increase even more." Red surmised, he really didn't know the true depth of Sparks' power but clearly it goes deeper than he thought.

"Lilian, Flint we can pick up on this later. Me and Red need to go." Delia said.

"But Blue I feel like I should ask but do you want me to drop off the ship then circle it?" Red asked.

"No, we are both going there to drag her off." Delia remarked.

"Oh Blue, wouldn't that kinda throw away all work we did cause just one person seeing us on that Cruise together?" Red said knowing gospel like that will spread faster than a fire when a Charmander walks into tall grass.

"That's right, the world doesn't know that you and Red are married." Flint said, with him and his own wife being one of the few that know that fact, Lilian also knew and she was able to keep it a secret from the rest of her family.

"But YOU are not going to be there, just my husband." Delia as she with a sly smile held up one of the PokeBalls she brought down with her.

It took a second for to click for him "Oh. How long will I have to wear it for? Also is it going to be uncomfortable?" Red asks, knowing what her plan is.

"It covers you before we leave. Also you will get used to it after a few hours." Delia smiled.

"Couldn't I just say you asked me for some help with something?" Red asked, hoping he could get out wearing what she wanted him to.

"Yeah the champion is helping a random single mother whose husband is nowhere to be seen to take another woman who married off a ship even if they don't assume we are having some kinda relationship and ignoring what they think of Lolo. We will have people staking out our home hoping to catch a scandal." Red sighed knowing she was right on that.

"Besides, my idea not only prevents any suspicion but later we can use it to go out together and enjoy some time together outside of our house. Besides, I have quite a few options for you to pick from." Delia explained.

"Ah. what are you talking about cause he is your husband." Flint asked

"Don't worry about it, we will tell you that later me and my husband need to go and get ready and there is another call I have to make before we leave. Bye Lilian, it's been great seeing you." Delia said.

"You as well, good luck with Lolo." Lilian said.

"Bye D-." Flint try say goodbye to Delia only for her walk away from screen

"Yeah, she's just angry at what you did. Give her some time. See you in Flint and good luck with the kids." Red told him.

"Thanks See ya, Red, maybe the two of us can battle sometime." Flint said, before he hung up.

Red turned around to see Delia holding one of her pokeballs with a smile "Now Richard let's find your new face." All Red could do was take a nervous gulp, knowing this was going to be a long night.

(To be continued.)

---

A/N: I hoped you all enjoyed the chapter and how the battled played out, Ash didn't surrender this time around and I hope Flint was much better than he was in the anime and Nurse Joy of Lilian has a connection to Brock and his siblings, Brock sees her as an aunt which is why Brock doesn't flirt with this one. And yeah Domino is here the agent from movie Mewtwo return I like her she's one of my favorite pokemon villains and wished she returned, now she's tasked with watching over Ash making sure to keep and eye on him, and yeah Ariados knows Psychic we know that makes things confusing and she could have used it on Ash back in the forest yeah, so we pretty much did it so Butterfree can use Confusion we'll be sure to give a list of moves that each pokemon knows. Also we are planning to change certain pokemon types since we are using the updated pokedex entries so if you have a suggestion for which pokemon should have their types changed leave a review and explain why.

A/N Skylanderzilla: the battle between Ash and Brock was portrayed in a different yet similar manner than in the anime being that Onix knew Dragon Breath right from the start . Also if you're wondering when Pichu will evolve into Pikachu he'll evolve sometime soon.

A/N Sandshrew Master: hope this chapter was enjoyable now for this who only seen English dub of original run of pokemon (Kanto) in this episode it was said Brock mother Lolo was dead but in later seasons we see her alive the reason was cause in Japanese sub she didn't die she simply left cause it just got too much for her.

So we thought we just have be alive while have reference to English dub version which also have it be pointed out the two are terrible parents each for different reasons along with showing That Flint blinded by his feelings for his wife to point letting her do whatever she wants.

Of course that leads to Red and Delia first mini adventure together to find Lolo giving them something to do outside together and showing more character like Delia mother like instincts and how she is going to punish Lolo for her actions.

Finally hope you enjoy the battle and the changes made to make feel more interesting and show off Ash skills.