Part XIX: Brock Will Be Brock
Misty stormed into the marquee and saw her target, a brunette girl with the oddly angled twin braids or pigtails or something like that Misty wasn't certain what the hairstyle was called. Misty did recognize the girl though as the one was who had broken something earlier when Misty had made sure that everyone knew who Ash belonged to.
Now the girl was advancing on Ash as he sat down with Iris on one side and the beefy, loud, redhead who had greeted Ash first on the other clearly ready for dinner and judge the cook-off. It was the perfect thing for Ash to do on his birthday as it combined his love for his friends with his love for food and Misty wanted to be there to watch it. First though, there was an issue in her way.
"So, Ash, I see that you do like girls after all." The girl said in a sweet voice as she rested on the table and fluttered her eyes at Ash. "Does that meant that I can finally get that date with you that I asked for back in Johto?"
"Er hey Macy." Ash said nervously in was typically sweet manner but Misty had a bigger thing to deal with than Ash's discomfort. "You see…"
"He's spoken for." Misty growled from behind this Macy chick. "So, get out of the way and don't try anything if you know what is good for you."
Misty then grabbed one of the girl's braids, it was oddly hard and stiff so good to grab, and yanked back hard, throwing the girl away from Ash's table. Misty wasn't necessarily violent, though she had been with Brock once or twice when he was really amorous around a woman and Croagunk wasn't available. However when a girl was hitting on her boyfriend in front of her, Misty would make an exception.
Macy landed hard on her ass a food few feet behind Misty and glared up at the intruder. She was going to get Ash this time, and no other female would get in her way. The female this time just so happened to be the red haired chick who had kissed Ash early and the look in her eyes was not a nice one as she glared down at Macy.
"And just who are you?" Macy snapped up at the girl. "I was busy trying to get my man."
"I'm Misty and I just so happen to be Ash's girlfriend." Misty said causing the girl to wince at the truth.
Misty was going to say more but got interrupted in the strangest way. Something orange and loud ran quacking into the marquee and then leapt right into Misty's chest flailing in a mix of panic and something else that Misty couldn't quite place.
"Psyyyy!" A loud, familiar looking, Psyduck wailed as Misty instinctively caught it in her arms.
"Aren't you…" Misty said blinking a little in confusion at Dawn's Psyduck who held his head and cocked it in utter confusion. "If you're here then that means…"
Before Misty could finish her thought Psyduck's trainer ran full speed into her as everyone watched in stunned silence. With a yelp, Misty was thrown backwards, tossing a bemused Psyduck in the air behind in the process as she crashed painfully to the floor. Dawn had been holding Piplup, who also went rolling away much to his own annoyance, so couldn't brace herself and both girls ended up tangled on the floor face to face.
"Dawn." Misty grunted out looking up at her rival, their noses touching from the closeness. "You are a little too close for comfort."
"Huh?" Dawn said recovering and then realizing her position and who she was on top of, winking at Misty and whispering so that only the Sinnoh native could hear. "Admit it, you like this."
"We are in public." Misty whispered back going red with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Everyone is staring Dawn."
That got through to Dawn and she jumped off, quickly looking around at the gathered guests. Thankfully people were just laughing and hadn't heard a thing so they were in the clear. Misty just grumbled and got up while Dawn went over and picked up Piplup, apologizing to him softly and blaming everything on her own Psyduck.
Misty slowly got up herself, turned and groaned. For Arceus's sake, couldn't she get a break apparently. Psyduck had somehow landed in Ash's lap, right in Misty's seat, though judging by the slightly flattened look on Ash's face and his hat being askew Misty figured she had banked the Duck Pokémon off Ash's face and into his lap. Ash was just staring at everything in shock, unable to process the series of events that had led to Psyduck landing in his lap.
Psyduck also looked confused as to how he got there but he seemed perfectly content with the situation. Judging by the yellow blob on the floor behind Ash, Misty had a feeling Pikachu had been dislodged from trying to get onto Ash's shoulder in the process and was about as pleased as Misty was with the situation.
"Dawn will you please get you Pokémon off my seat." Misty snapped as Dawn came over. "I would like to sit down and enjoy a meal cooked by the two best chefs I have ever known.
"Psyduck return." Dawn said with a groan returning her disobedient Pokémon to its ball. "We will have words about this later though I doubt it will get through your thick skull."
"Thank you." Misty said with a sigh as she finally managed to be free of all these interruptions. "That was way too much excitement for one night."
Not wanting to deal with anything else, Misty walked behind the table and without hesitation plopped herself in a still slightly stunned Ash's lap before something could stop her again. Pikachu hopping into her lap to complete it all, happy as she petted him. Finally, Misty was in her rightful place and she could enjoy the rest of the evening with her boyfriend celebrating him and asserting her position as his girlfriend over all her rivals present.
"Why you…" Macy began as she glared at Misty but before she could finish Dawn had grabbed her ear and was dragging her away.
"Come on you need to cool off." Dawn said as Piplup agreed. "This works on Brock so it will work on you too. I can't stand it anymore than you can honey but we have to deal with it."
"Piplup." Piplup added forcefully as they left the marquee to drop Macy off somewhere outside.
Misty just smile her thanks as Ash finally recovered and put his arm around Misty's waist, holding her close as she melted into him. Most of the people where either laughing at the scene, chatting with old friends while making new ones on their tables or in a few cases that Misty didn't notice, giving the couple jealous, longing looks and they weren't all jealous of Misty.
"Where have you been?" Ash asked over another rumble of his stomach. "I am sorry I didn't notice."
"No need to worry, I was just sorting a few things out." Misty said though she knew that her tone was slightly off and Ash was worrying so added quietly. "I'll tell you later, there are a few new things that just came up that we should be aware of. For now, though, we enjoy a true cook-off between a pair of master chefs."
"You two are so cute." Iris squealed from Misty's left before Ash could respond to Misty's words. "I am so glad it worked out for you guys."
"Well I have you to thank for it." Misty said smiling at the Unova girl. "You were the one who managed the impossible, you got Ash to see his feelings for me. I don't know how you did it but you did and I couldn't be more grateful."
"I did?" Iris asked confused. "All I did was call him out on his blatant crush on you, he was being a little kid about it. Someone had to tell him."
"Yes, and that was what made me realize that I did have a crush on Misty." Ash admitted. "Well it was more than a crush but it took actually being told I had it for me to understand."
"Oh, ok good." Iris said with a sly smile at them. "This means that you two owe me big time for this."
"I wouldn't…" Ash began.
"Yes, we do." Misty interrupted for him. "We owe you more than either of us could possibly imagine
"Alright well I will collect one day." Iris said and Ash groaned knowing that it wasn't going to be good when Iris did collect.
"So how did this happen?" Misty asked gesturing to the cook off as Brock and Cilan were working with their chosen assistants. "And why are Burgundy and Mimey helping them out?"
"Well both Brock and Cilan offered to cook when Ash's stomach announced to everyone that it was time for dinner." Iris explained. "They got a little competitive over who should have the honor to cook for Ash so Cilan challenged Brock to a cook-off to see who was better."
"Yeah they asked Ash to be the judge." The guy on Ash's right said loudly causing Misty to look at him. "And I couldn't let Ash have all the fun so I volunteered to join in the judging."
"I'm sorry but we haven't met." Misty said offering her hand to the young man who appeared to be about Ash's age. "I'm Misty, I traveled with Ash when he was in Sinnoh and, well, you can see what we are now."
"Morrison." The man said shaking, his voice still a little too loud. "Ash and I ran into each other a few times back in Hoenn where I am from. We were rivals back then, competing in everything we tried. We still do despite not seeing each other since the end of the Ever Grande Conference, though clearly I keep falling behind."
"Morrison and I met in the last 16 of that conference." Ash said. "I won of course but it was a good match all the way to the end."
"Best of the tournament for me." Morrison barked. "Since then I have been training hard to catch up. I'm heading to Sinnoh next and this time I will win the conference there."
"Well you need to reach the finals at least to do better than Ash." Misty said with a slight tease in her voice, she was going to support Ash over Morrison regardless. "Ash was amazing in it."
"Oh, I will beat that." Morrison said with a laugh. "Then we will see who is better."
"Such a kid." Iris said with a shrug of her shoulders and a shake of her head. "All of Ash's rivals are it seems. I just wanted good food and to see if Brock is better than Cilan, it will be nice to see him knocked down a peg or two by a better cheff."
"And the assistants?" Misty asked again. "What's their roll in this."
"Mimey and Brock appear to still have a rivalry from years back." Ash guessed. "So, I guess he offered to help Cilan beat brock and Cilan only accepted if someone agreed to help Brock as well."
"And let me guess, Burgundy didn't hesitate when it came to the chance to beat Cilan." Misty said. "She seems to still have it out for Cilan for some reason."
"Yeah it goes back to some spat between the two of them ove an evaluation at the Striaton Gym." Ash said. "But it has been civil so far."
"Give it a few minutes." Iris said eagerly. "I doubt that Burgundy can resist the chance to snipe at Cilan if given the opportunity."
Misty was about to say something when both Brock and Cilan put down their utensils and nodded respectfully at each other. It was clear that the cooking was over. The pair of former gym leaders and skilled chefs then loaded up plates of their food, and with the help of Mimey and Burgundy, brought them to Ash, placing them in front of him while the assistants served Morrison and Iris their dishes.
"Sorry Misty, we didn't realize that you would be joining Ash." Brock apologized. "I can go get you a dish as well when we serve everyone else as we made enough for everyone to try both dishes."
"Same here." Cilan agreed. "It would be a pleasure to have you try my latest creation, especially after you and Ash have combined recipes to create a whole new one that is sweeter and purer than before."
"Thanks guys." Misty said with a smile the cooks. "I will share with Ash for now but…"
Misty then blanched as Ash tucked into both dishes and finished them in seconds, Morrison and Iris both right behind them as if they were competing with Ash to see who could finish first. They all smacked their lips in pleasure at they finished their dishes in a dead heat.
"Damn those are good." Ash said with a smile on his face as he sighed in contentment. "Though I think one more will help decide it for me. One serving just isn't enough."
"Agreed." Morrison said with a belch. "Can't decide after just one serving. They are both equally good, best food I've had in ages."
"I dunno, maybe Brock's is better." Iris said with an equally loud belch. "Just need another helping to confirm."
"Quick Monsieur." Burgundy yelled at Brock pushing him back to the cooking station. "Tout suit! We must beat zis wannabee connoisseur. Maintenant!"
"Mr. Mime!" Mimey said pushing Cilan back to his pots with just as much vigor as Burgundy.
"Never mind." Misty said blinking at the sight and more surprised that she wasn't surprise at all at what had just happened. "Shouldn't have expected to any food the first time around."
"Sorry." Ash said with a laugh. "I was just so hungry and the chance to have both Brock and Cilan's cooking at the same time was too good to pass up. I will slow down a little next time and savor it with you."
Misty just laughed and rested her head on Ash's shoulder and kissed him lightly on the cheek, feeling the jealous glares on her and basking in them. She was hungry but she forgave him for his haste, Ash would always be Ash when it came to good food. She could wait, there would be more than enough to go around knowing Brock and Cilan.
This time Brock and Cilan brought trays with 4 plates each for the judges and Misty to enjoy. While they did this their assistants helped pass out plates to everyone else and dinner finally began. This time Misty forced Ash to eat slower while she savored the best cooking she'd had in months.
It was very good and the styles were very different which added to the experience. Brock brought out the flavors of simple dishes with simple ingredients and made them great while Cilan favored a little flair to his meals and some exotic seasoning and flavoring to bring out a different taste, making even basic foods look world class.
Honestly Misty couldn't tell which was better given the differences but she had to give the edge to Brock as she knew it better from her year traveling with him and Ash so it gave her a sense of comfort and familiarity by bringing her back to when Ash came into her life. It wasn't that Cilan's was bad, it was just a shade too fancy for her and well anything that reminded her of how lucky she was to have Ash was a huge bonus.
"I say that Brock's is better." Iris said as she polished off her third dish, her mouth still full. "It is simpler, less fancy and gives off a homely feel that warms me to my core and reminds me of the Village of Dragons for some reasons."
"Merci Iris, put zis connoisseur down." Burgundy said with a smirk. "Tres bien Brock, we have une vote."
"Iris do you have any idea what you are saying?" Cilan asked.
"Not at all." Iris admitted happily as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin while Cilan sighed in resignation. "But it is fun to annoy you and I do think Brock's is slightly, but only slightly, better."
"I disagree." Morrison said as he finished his own third serving and again let out a massive belch. "I am so used to the simple cooking that I can muster that while it is great, I am in heaven with this fancy stuff that I haven't tasted before in my life. My mouth feels like it has received a 5-star treatment it never knew it could get. I vote for Cilan's dish as the best."
"Mr. Mime!" Mimey said happily while he glared smugly at Brock.
"Thank you Morrison." Cilan said with a bow at the redhead. "That is precisely what I seek to impart with my cooking. At least someone here understands the menu unlike Iris."
"Well Ash, that leaves you as the final vote." Brock said as Ash finished off a 4th portion of each and sighed in relief, Misty easily feeling his belly swelling as it pressed against her back. "Who's dish is better?"
"I say it's a tie." Ash mumbled as he entered a food coma while Brock and Cilan crashed to the ground with groans. "Both different but just as delicious."
"I think we have lost Ash for a while." Misty said with a laugh as she finished off her own meal. "Might be best to ask him in a while when he has recovered. Perhaps try again with breakfast tomorrow as a tie breaker."
"Probably for the best." Cilan said with a nod. "Come on Brock, let's clean up. We can settle this over breakfast tomorrow."
"Good idea." Brock agreed as the pair began to clear and clean, receiving compliments form everyone. "I look forward to another challenge."
"So, what now?" Iris asked. "What's next for Ash's birthday?"
"Now we party!" Morrison yelled to the marque. "So, let's get this party started!"
Everyone cheered and even Ash found a second wind to compete with Morrison. Misty just went with it and the party finally kicked into high gear. After a few hiccups at the start that had been expected, everyone had been introduced and fed from two of the best cooks Ash had ever met and it was time to properly celebrate him. Things were about to get wild.
-break-
"The kids look like they are having fun." Professor Oak said to his collogues as they watched from a separate table at the edge of the marquee. "It is good to see them all enjoying themselves."
"And to see just how many people Ash has met and befriended over the years." Professor Birch said. "Really astounding when you see it in person."
"Ash is a special boy." Professor Oak complimented with a smile. "I am glad he has had this much of an impact on those who he has met over the years. Almost all of the invitees showed up which is saying something."
The others nodded at this. The Pokémon Professors had all decided to let the kids have their fun while they enjoyed a dinner made by Delia, who had retired early for the night, off to the side and talked about their own things. They would interact with the trainers later as they all would have stories to tell that the Professors would want to hear regarding their exploits. For now, though, they were addressing professor Oak's current research with Togekiss and the potential new developments that could come from it.
"Have you reached out to the others?" Professor Juniper asked bringing them back to the discussion at hand. "Elm, Rowan, Sycamore, Kukui, and Magnolia? I am sure they will be of assistance in this matter given what this means. I for one have never heard of a Pokémon not being effected by a dragon type move. Type immunity is rare to begin with, this is something else."
"I have." Professor Oak said with a nod. "Elm has said he will review the date when I send it to him and given his passion to nitpick my work he will be perfect for the job. Rowan is currently with Sycamore out in Kalos right now discussing breakthroughs in evolution but they have been informed. Given a few other discoveries in Kalos that seem to relate to this issue, that region may be useful."
"And the other 2?" Pofessor Birch asked. "Have you heard from them?"
"Kukui is a bit tied up right now as Alola is busy setting up a Pokémon League and he is really into his own research regarding Pokémon Moves." Professor Oak said. "As such he is has very little time to help but he will look over what he can as there may be moves that could be important to this discovery and he is the best of us when it comes to understanding moves. Magnolia has been informed but hasn't gotten back to me yet. Galar is a long ways away so it takes time for stuff to happen between here and there and her own research must come first."
"As expected." Professor Juniper said with a nod. "We all have our specialties and will help but this is something that doesn't really deal with any of our research topics so is more of a special project. It is fascinating and potentially ground breaking but we aren't sure how much assistance we can be if we're being honest."
"Any help will be welcome." Professor Oak said. "But this is my project so I will take the lead on this but I will keep you all in the loop. Misty will leave Togekiss here with me when her and Ash set off. Togekiss will stay along with Misty's Typhlosion and Pachirisu and Misty will register her Pokémon here for the next year at least just in case she catches more than she can hold. As such I will be at the front of this."
"That is good." Professor Birch said before wincing as Muk decided to come and say hello by jumping on the professor's back and flattening him to the ground. "Muk I like you too but we are busy, can we talk later?"
The Sludge Pokémon ignored the Hoenn professor and continued its affections towards him. The others laughed at the actions of Ash's Pokémon; Oak happy it wasn't him who was the target of Muk's affection today as the fully evolved poison type seemed to remember Birch and want to play with him tonight.
"I saw we join the kids." Professor Oak said getting up. "This is about them and I am sure that many will have questions and stories for us. There is so much we can learn from the youth about the changes in the world."
"Agreed." Professor Juniper said standing as well. "I know I need to chat with Bianca about her Pokémon and let her know how her old Accelgor is doing."
With that the Professors of Kanto and Unova headed towards the marquee to join the party and talk to the trainers there. Birch tried to get up but Muk had him in its affections and it would be a while before the Hoenn professor could make it to the party.
-break-
Brock had just finished cleaning up and was eating a bowl of Cilan's cooking to see how good the green haired man was. He had to admit it was very good just not as good as his but he was a little biased when it came to his own cooking. Still it was very good and Brock could see why Ash liked his cooking.
With his own meal done, Brock turned and headed towards the party to catch up with old friends and make new ones when he saw her. He had of course seen pictures of Professor Juniper and he had the Unova Professor was in his little blue book of babes as the number 1 most beautiful professor but the pictures paled to the real thing.
As always, Brock was instantly smitten and rushed straight to the Professor as she entered the marquee, knocking Dawn and Piplup over in the process as she was coming to say hello when he saw Juniper. This time he would be successful, this time he a woman would fall for him just as he fell for her, Brock was certain of it. After all, he had to get lucky eventually.
"Professor Juniper it is an honor to finally meet you in real life." Brock proclaimed falling to a knee and taking her hand in both of his. "And let me tell you those journals do not do your beauty justice in the slightest. You are way more beautiful in person."
"Ah you must be Brock." Professor Juniper asked a little taken aback by the sudden affection while everyone who knew Brock just groaned that he was at it again. "I have heard a lot about you from Ash. He speaks very highly of you and your skills with Pokémon."
"Then you will know that I too will soon wear a lab coat as a Pokémon Doctor." Brock proclaimed on hand on his heart, the other still holding Juniper's. "How about you and I talk about the origins of our love for as with Pokémon it too has an origin."
"That is, it." Dawn growled getting up, Piplup just as angry next to her, and signaling to Max who was nearby as he had been drawn to Brock's declaration like a Venomoth to light. "He is not doing this here. Max, care to help?"
"With pleasure." Max said with a smirk it had been a while since he had prevented Brock from being, well, Brock and Max was looking forward to resuming his duties as Brock's chaperone. "How shall we do this?"
"You go left while I go right." Dawn said reaching out for an ear and Max nodded in agreement, glad that Brock was on one knee so that he could reach. "Then together we grab and yank."
Max just smirked as he got into position, Dawn next to him. They both reached out and were about to grab Brock's ears while he spouted some more lovesick nonsense at an uninterested and slightly uncomfortable Professor Juniper when it happened.
Both Dawn and Max suddenly felt a sudden, searing, jabbing, pain in their sides and instantly went stiff as the attack hit home. They spasmed as their muscles seized up for a moment as the poison coursed through their bodies before they toppled over and hit the ground and twitch uncontrollably on it.
"What. Was. That?" Dawn grunted out in between spasms.
"Poison. Jab. I. Think." Max replied. "Good. One. Too."
They both looked and saw a blue, bipedal, frog like Pokémon calmly staring at them. It was a Croagunk and its finger tips were still glowing purple from the attack. It slowly shook its head at them, telling them that Brock was its responsibility. Then it turned, powered up another powerful poison jab and launched it right between Brock's legs.
"Together we can search…YEOW!" Brock yelled as the poison jab he had been expecting finally struck him, this time right in the boulders. Clearly Croagunk was in a particularly vindictive mood tonight as Brock spasmed in familiar pain and grunted out. "Or. We. Could. Just. Search. Alone."
Brock then crashed forward and hit the ground hard twitching in pain. Croagunk just croaked in approval as he grabbed Brock's ankle and dragged him away to Arceus knew where at his usual calm pace.
"What? What just happened?" Professor Juniper asked confused her hand out as if Brock was still holding it.
"Oh, that? That was Brock's Croagunk just doing his job." Misty said approaching with a laugh having heard the yells and coming over to investigate. "He always does that whenever Brock gets a little to zealous with a woman he's suddenly fallen for. Croagunk often comes out of his Poke Ball just so that he can stop Brock and drag him away."
"Always?" Juniper asked looking over as Croagunk dragged Brock into ranch and the night. "And they get along?"
"Yup." Misty confirmed as a still slightly food groggy Ash joined them to knowing what had just happened. "They are really close. They took a friendship test in Jubilife City and the score was almost as high as Ash and Pikachu and Brock had only just caught Croagunk a few days prior. I think it is Croagunk's own special brand of affection for Brock, protecting Brock from, well, Brock."
"That is…fascinating!" Professor Juniper exclaimed before running after Croagunk with the look of a scientist with a mystery to solve. "I must study this. Croagunk wait! Let's talk! I want to write a paper on you!"
"That was unexpected." Ash said looking after the Professor. "I guess Croagunk's actions are really unusual and worth studying."
"Scientific curiosity I guess." Misty said as another startled yelp and a flash of purple showed that Brock had recovered, hit on Juniper, and been jabbed again.
"Alright Croagunk, I am going to stay here and study this up close a few times so please can you do that again when Brock comes too and hits on me." Juniper's excited voice carried over to them. "Also you must have hit Brock a lot, that was a really fast recovery time."
"That and also Croagunk took out his competition." Ash said pointing to the still twitching Dawn and Max on the floor and causing Misty to turn and look at the them. "I guess Brock has developed some level of tolerance for the attack seeing as Dawn and Max are still recovering. We may as well help them."
Misty nodded as Ash bent down and helped Max up. She then turned to Dawn and groaned; this was going to be annoying even if it was hilarious to see her on the floor after taking a poison jab from Croagunk.
"Is that how Brock was stopped in Sinnoh?" Max asked as he recovered and got to his feet with Ash's assistance.
"Yeah, pretty much from the instant Croagunk was caught." Ash said with a nod. "Every time unless really rare circumstances prevented him from doing his job."
"Much more effective." Max agreed. "I will yield to Croagunk. He is the true master and will always be with Brock. I cannot possibly live up to that level of prevention."
"So that was Croagunk." Dawn panted as the pain finally left her while Misty knelt down and looked at her. "Interesting and effective, I respect the pain Croagunk causes Brock."
"Yeah it was a surprise at first but we got used to it." Misty said. "Got pretty funny by the end of our journey. Brock almost never learned, except a few times but those weren't often."
"Well, I can teach you how to have me really twitching in pleasure on my back." Dawn whispered with a wink. "A much better sight I am sure. I can even repay the favor."
"Yeah your fully recovered." Misty grumbled helping Dawn up before letting the Kanto girl go before Dawn could try anything else. "Come on, Piplup is not going to be happy that he is not being carried at the moment."
"Fine but save me a dance later." Dawn said as she turned to find the disgruntled water Pokémon waiting for her to pick him up. "I expect one with you and another with Ash before the night is over."
Misty just rolled her eyes and turned back to Ash. He smiled at her and she instantly went into his arms and snuggled there, making sure that Dawn could see them. It was certainly an interesting birthday and there was still so much more to come that not Ash had no clue about.
Just then music came on and Misty looked into Ash's eyes with a smirk and grabbed his hand. Before Ash knew it, Misty had dragged him onto an impromptu dance floor and the party really kicked off as people began to join the couple. Misty and Ash were happy and having fun. It was time to let loose and really celebrate.
