Inkaliber: Welcome back everybody! I hope you're hungry for another chapter, 'cause I'm bringing a full serving of canon!...
James: Boo!
Inkaliber: Oh come on! It wasn't that bad!
Jessie: I give it a three out of ten for effort.
Meowth: Felt like Saibamen were chewin' on my ears again. Didn't you do this same schtick over on Archive already?
Inkaliber:… Anywho, if there are no more comments about my humor, let's get to the story.
Meowth: Can I do the intro?
Inkaliber: You lost your chance when you dissed my humor. Anywho, I don't own Pokémon or Lilo & Stitch. I do own OC characters, concepts, and objects.
Pewter City
Our heroes have finally made it to Pewter City, home to the Pewter City gym and the first big step of Ash's Pokémon League career. The city was well known for its connection to the earth around it, some even making a living off the stony area. Rock type Pokémon of all shapes and sizes could be found enjoying life among the townsfolk. The people were just as sturdy as the creatures they keep in their company. Will Ash's resolve be just as hard as those of the city's people?
Ash ran ahead of the others in excitement. Bolt ran right beside his trainer, feeling the same excitement resonating from the human. The boy had been waiting for this day for a long time. After all, today was going to be the day he obtained his first gym badge. He hopped on top of a rock as he skidded to a stop.
"Finally!" cheered Ash. "Pewter City!" The trainer fell back as he sat on the large stone. The girls caught up as Bolt jumped up to his trainer's shoulder. "I can't wait to reach the Pokémon Center."
"Pewter City is gray, the color of stone." interrupted a scraggly voice. Ash looked over the nearby edge in curiosity. A tan skinned man with a long brown beard sat on another large stone. He wore a red boggin that covered his eyes, a yellow sleeveless top, green pants, and brown loafers. Ash tilted his head in confusion, his partner copying him.
"Um… who're you?" The man sighed as he continued to look forward.
"The name's Flint. I'd prefer it if you didn't sit on my merchandise young man." Ash looked around to try to make sense of the stranger's words. The answer suddenly donned on him as he leapt from the large stone.
"Sorry about that." Stitch sniffed the rock in confusion, not seeing what's so special about it. Lilo looked over the man's wares, surprised by the size and shape of the many stones.
"You sell rocks?" asked the Hawaiian. "I heard that people from Pewter City love their stones, but I didn't think you'd make a business out of it." Flint chuckled as he stood up.
"They're souvenirs." answered the merchant. "Not only do they serve as reminders of your visit, but stones hold a lot of knowledge in them. You could find fossils, evolutionary stones, or even regular gemstones and precious metals. Not only that but some Pokémon love to eat stones, so even if you find nothing in a rock it has a use." Ash sounded off his interest as he looked over the various rocks.
"Sounds cool." commented the boy. "Hey, do you know the way to the Pokémon Center? I really need to help my team rest up." The man sounded odd his own intrigue as he looked the boy over.
"You're a trainer?" The boy from Pallet Town nodded in response. "Alright, I'll take you there myself. I could use a good walk." Ash smirked as he followed the man.
Misty wasn't so sure, however as she watched Lilo and Stitch join them. There was something familiar about that name, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Hadn't a man by that very name visited Cerulean City once before when she was younger? She sighed in defeat as she followed along. It didn't take long for them to find the center with Flint as their guide.
Bolt sat on a tray along with the four Pokéballs containing the rest of Ash's team. The person at the desk smiled as she walked over to him. The boy returned the gesture as the woman grabbed the tray from him.
"Please revitalize my Pokémon mam. We've had a long journey to get here." The familiar looking nurse nodded in response.
"I'll take good care of them." replied the woman. "They'll be good as new before you know it." Ash rubbed the back of his head in confusion.
"Um… if you don't mind me asking, are you the twin of Nurse Joy from Viridian City? You look so much like her." The nurse couldn't help but laugh at the boy's question.
"It must be your first time going from one Pokémon Center to another. You know how nurses and doctors are identified by their last names right?" The boy nodded in response. "Well, Joy is our family name. The Joy in Viridian City is actually my cousin."
Ash's jaw dropped at the revelation as the woman pointed to a nearby photo. On it was a large group of what looked to be the same exact person posed for a family photo. "I'm honestly surprised you didn't mistake us for the same person. I usually have to explain it to young trainers. Anywho, your Pokémon should be well and rested shortly."
Ash watched as Nurse Joy took his Pokémon to the back to be checked on. He sighed as he looked around. There were a lot of trainers and their Pokémon hanging around the building. Any one of them could end up being an opponent when it came to the league. While it got his blood pumping, it also made him a little nervous to think about the road ahead.
"Aha!" shouted a familiar voice. The trainer from Pallet Town turned to find Misty standing in front of a poster alongside Lilo. He couldn't help his curiosity as he approached the girls. The poster was for the Pokémon League, making him wonder what all the fuss was about.
"What's going on guys?" asked Ash. Misty turned to him with a smug grin as she pointed to the poster.
"It says here that in order to qualify for the Pokémon League, you have to battle gym leaders from different towns and earn their badges as proof of your victory. You need eight different badges to qualify." She crossed her arms as she looked him in the eye. "Can you do that?" Ash shook his head in response.
"First of all, I already knew about that. I'd be stupid not to know what I'm getting into. Second of all, I won't know if I can unless I try." A soft chuckle was heard as Flint approached the group.
"Don't tell me you actually plan to face Brock, the Pewter City gym leader." stated the man with a hint of humor. Ash looked to the man, slightly miffed by his tone.
"How else am I going to earn his gym badge? As soon as Pikachu and my other Pokémon are ready I'm going straight there." The man let out a hardy laugh as he crossed his arms.
"Humor me kid, what are your other Pokémon?" Ash looked at his hand as he readied to count.
"There's Fang, my Rattata, Butterfree, Pidgeotto and Riptide, my Poliwag." Lilo smiled as she looked to the boy. He really did have a name with naming things. Flint hummed as he rubbed his chin.
"A Poliwag? So you did your homework going into this one. If I were you, I'd catch another water type or a grass type before you ever take on Brock." Flint walked away as he exited the building. Ash growled as he looked away from the retreating man.
The human trio soon found themselves having lunch in the cafeteria as they waited for their Pokémon to be treated. Ash was angrily woofing down his food as he tried to forget the man's dismissal of his team. He didn't need anyone telling him that his Pokémon couldn't do it. Pudge Jr. already showed him that type advantages only went so far. He put down the bowl as he looked to his companions, seeing the worried look on Lilo's face.
"That Flint. Trying to make a fool out of me. No one insults my Pokémon like that!" Misty growled as she took a bite of her own food.
"Do you really think you can beat Brock?" asked the redhead. "Gym leaders are tougher than your run of the mill Pokémon trainers. They're much, much tougher!" Lilo shook her head as she smiled at Ash.
"Don't worry Ash." reassured the Hawaiian. "If you stick to your plan and watch your moves carefully, you should do great." Ash smiled as he nodded to his friend. Misty smiled as she leaned forward.
"Tell you what. If you ask me really nicely, I'll help you out." Ash furrowed his brows as he looked to the water type specialist.
"And what would this help be? If you're going to say to listen to Flint then I don't wanna hear it." Misty growled as she clenched her fist. She stood up as she scoffed at the boy.
"Fine then. If that's how you're going to be, then there's no way you'll beat Brock of the Pewter City gym!" The redhead stomped off as she left the duo behind. Ash sighed as he looked down at the table. His eyes widened as he noticed the unpaid bill.
"HEY! YOU CAN'T LEAVE US WITH THE BILL!" Lilo grabbed his arm before he could storm off.
"Just let it go." ordered the Hawaiian. "It's not a good idea to go into a gym battle angry. We've both seen what happens to trainers who lose their cool." Ash groaned as he lowered his head. He hated to admit it, but his friend had a good point.
Ash steeled his nerves as he looked at the building before him. The Pewter City Gym seemed more like a large cave with a large metal door and metal supports on the outside. It displayed its gym leader's preferred type well. The boy gulped as he approached the door, Lilo and Stitch right behind him. Bolt was quick to calm his trainer as he rubbed his cheek against him.
The trainer knocked on the door before entering the building. He looked around at the nearly pitch black room as he tried to locate the gym leader. He grew slightly frustrated as he cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Hello!" shouted Ash. "Is anyone here!" Bolt sniffed around as he tried to help his partner. The Pikachu patted his trainer with his tail a few times before pointing towards the back of the room.
"Who's there!?" asked a new voice as Ash turned around. A spotlight turned on to reveal a tan skinned man with spiky brown hair. He wore an orange t-shirt, a lime green cargo vest with 4 pockets, a dark brown belt with a gold buckle and dark red pockets, brown jeans, and blue-gray sneakers with white trim. There was no doubt in Ash's mind who this could be. Bolt jumped of his shoulder as he clenched his right fist.
"So, you must be Brock: The Pewter City Gym Leader. I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I challenge you to a battle!" The gym leader's expression didn't change a bit as he looked to the challenger.
"Is this your first gym match?" Ash nodded in response. "This battle is for Pokémon League qualification, so there are special rules." Once again the boy nodded.
"Trust me. I've read up on this." Brock nodded in response.
"Good. This will be a two on two matchup, meaning we use two Pokémon each. Additionally, only the challenger is permitted to swap Pokémon." Ash nodded as Bolt growled. "Tell me something first, how long have you been with that Pikachu?"
"Bolt's been my partner for two weeks now. He's helped me get this far." Brock once again nodded at the information.
"Yes. Your Pikachu is in its cutest state." Bolt blushed as he rubbed the back of his head. "It can't win." The electric mouse face-planted before growling in anger once more.
"Looks can be deceiving. Besides, I'm counting on all of my team." Brock sighed as he stood up.
"Very well. As a gym leader, I must accept all challenges. Your friend can wait in the stands." He snapped his fingers, causing all the lights to turn on. The nearby doors slid open as two sets of rocky terrain came sliding towards each other.
Ash screamed as he and Bolt ran for the other side. They leapt as the two pieces met, creating their battlefield. Brock leapt from his spot before landing in the white square before him. Lilo looked over the area from the stands, nervously awaiting the match.
'Good luck Ash.' thought the girl. Brock pulled out a Pokéball as Ash entered the square on his side of the field.
"Let the match begin." Ash nodded his head as he grabbed his first Pokémon.
"Show him what you've got Riptide!" He threw the orb in his hand, unleashing his new Poliwag. The tadpole hopped back and forth on the ground in anticipation for the match. Brock furrowed his brow at the sight.
"Not bad. Water types have an advantage over Rock type Pokémon. Let's see how well your Poliwag fights!" The gym leader reared his arm back as he prepared for battle. "Go Geodude!"
He threw his Pokéball forward, unleashing the rocky Pokémon with arms. Ash smiled as he pulled out his Pokédex. The screen came to life as the device scanned the familiar Pokémon.
"Geodude: The Rock Pokémon." informed the Pokédex. "Usually found in fields and mountains, people often step or trip on them mistaking them for boulders. Geodude don't take kindly to this, attacking anyone or anything that steps on it. When traveling uphill, if it encounters a raised step, it cleverly hoists itself up and over using its two arms." Ash put the device away as he looked to his Pokémon.
"Start with Water Gun Riptide!" commanded Ash. The tadpole jumped into the air before unleashing a torrent of water at the Geodude. Brock threw his arm to the side in response.
"Dodge it and use Tackle!" shouted the gym leader. The living rock bounced to the side, nearly dodging the attack as it pounced towards the opponent. Riptide found itself unable to dodge as Geodude crashed into him. Ash growled as he clenched his fist.
"Use Double Slap to shake him off!" The tadpole slapped its tail on the ground to hop over Geodude before slapping it in the back. It used this momentum to send its opponent flying into one of the rocks as it itself landed on another one. "Go for another Water Gun!" Riptide obliged as he spat another torrent of water.
Geodude barely turned in time to block the blast with its arm, though it still took considerable damage. Brock shook his head as he threw his arm to the side.
"Use Gyroball! Go after it!" The living rock suddenly went into a spin, gaining a glowing white ring around its center. It powered through the water as it rushed towards its opponent.
"Jump off of the rock and use Hypnosis!" Riptide made a quick attempt to jump off of the boulder, nearly escaping as Geodude broke the perch apart. He waited till Geodude became to dizzy to continue before flashing his swirled belly. The rock turned to him, only to be caught in a trance as the tadpole's belly seemed to spin slowly. Brock growled as he watched the events unfold.
"Snap out of it and use Seismic Toss!" His orders fell on deaf ears, however, as his Pokémon fell into a deep slumber. Ash smirked as Riptide stood in wait.
"Finish this with Water Gun!" With one more mighty blast, Geodude was sent hurtling to the side of the building. The crash caused a small dust cloud to form. The sound of snoring could be heard as the debris began to clear. Geodude was still asleep as his eyes swirled in defeat.
"Return Geodude!" Brock held out his Pokéball, recalling his first Pokémon from the crater. He looked down at the ball with a soft smile. "You did your best." He then frowned as he looked to the challenger.
Riptide bounced around once more in preparation for the next opponent. "I'll admit you caught me off guard. Not many new trainers can get past Geodude." He quickly swapped Pokéballs as Ash smirked. "This next one won't be so easy."
He reared his arm back for the next throw. "Go Onix!" Brock threw the orb, unleashing a huge flash of light. A shadow soon enveloped the group as a large Onix towered over them. Poliwag sounded off his fright as Ash once again pulled out his trusty Pokédex.
"Onix: The Rock Snake Pokémon." declared the device. "As it grows, the stone portions of its body harden to become similar to a diamond, but colored black. Burrowing at high speed in search of food, the tunnels it leaves are used as homes by Diglett. Despite its size, it can squirm its way through the ground at 50 mph." Ash growled as he looked to his Pokémon.
"Be careful and don't let his size intimidate you!" cried Ash. Riptide gulped as he nodded. Onix roared as it charged forward. The tadpole didn't need instructions to dodge as he ran away from the angry rock snake. Brock watched as Onix continued to chase Riptide around.
"Use Slam to finish this!" ordered Brock. Onix suddenly lunged forward as he closed in on the Poliwag. Riptide could only scream in terror as it was squashed beneath the weight of Onix.
"RIPTIDE!" The rock snake lifted its head from the ground, revealing a swirly eyed Poliwag in a crater. Ash sighed as he returned the Pokémon. "You did a great job. Get some rest buddy."
"You're down to your last Pokémon." Ash growled as he looked to the gym leader. "Choose wisely." Ash looked to his remaining Pokémon as he began to rethink his plan. Lilo watched on as she let the situation set in.
Stitch held on to her hand as he tried to comfort her. He wanted to take a crack at that Onix himself, not exactly fond of Brock's attitude. Ash sighed as he looked to Bolt.
"Are you sure you want to still go through with this buddy?" Brock raised his brow in response. It wasn't very often that a trainer checked with his Pokémon before choosing them. The Pikachu gulped as he nodded his head. "Okay."
Bolt ran onto the field as he ran for the rocks. "Stick to the plan buddy!" Brock shook his head as he threw his arm to the side.
"Finish this quickly with Tackle!" Onix roared in acceptance as he chased after the rodent. Bolt continued to run through the field as he tried to escape Onix. At times he'd brush past him, rubbing his cheeks against him. Ash kept looking around as he kept track of where Bolt was with respect to the opponent.
"Keep going!" Brock didn't know what to think as the boy continued to direct his Pokémon in this bizarre strategy. What did he hope to achieve? The answer suddenly donned on him as he watched the Pikachu rub his cheeks against Onix. He growled as he looked to his Pokémon.
"Bind it!" Onix felt Bolt rub against his stones once more, quickly moving his tail to intercept. The rodent couldn't react in time as he was wrapped up by the opponent's body. Onix continued to crush his victim as he squeezed tighter and tighter. Ash could do nothing as his Pokémon screamed.
"BOLT!" Lilo grabbed Stitch before he could jump in the ring. She turned away as she held him firmly in her grasp. Brock looked to Ash as he took his eyes off his own Pokémon.
"I'll admit you almost had me there. You were planning to use Pikachu's static ability to paralyze Onix to give yourself an advantage. Sadly, I've trained Onix to be very resistant towards abilities like that. You only have one choice, surrender now." Ash couldn't bare it as Bolt let out another cry.
"Just stop it! Don't hurt him anymore!" A bell rang as Onix released the little rodent. Stitch growled as he looked over to the rock snake. Lilo, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel bad for Ash.
Ash walked away from the gym in defeat as he held Bolt in his arms. Lilo followed close behind, trying to find the right words to say to him. She didn't like it when Ash seemed to lose all hope. It really wasn't like him. The girl finally gathered her courage as she walked over to his side.
"You know Ash, everyone loses sometimes." stated the Hawaiian. "You're strategy was brilliant, and if Riptide was a bit faster and more prepared, I bet you could…" Ash stopped before she could continue, his head still low.
"Look Lilo, I just need to be alone." answered the boy. "I have to clear my head. I'll meet you back at the Pokémon Center." Lilo sighed in defeat as she moved onward. Stitch looked between the two for a bit before following after his partner.
Ash looked down to his battered and beaten Pokémon as he lost himself in thought. So, this was the power of the gym leaders. They really were pillars in the way of Ash's destiny. Would he ever be ready to be a master if he couldn't beat the leader Gary and the other kids could. He was brought out of his thoughts as he saw Flint standing before him.
"Come with me." ordered the merchant as he turned to walk off. Although reluctant, Ash found himself following the man. They soon arrived at Flint's home where the man administered care to Riptide and Bolt. He soon sat bright beside Ash with a cup in his hand. "Your friend was right you know: everyone loses sometimes."
"I know. I didn't just lose though, I stunk. Brock's a way better trainer than I am. How can I get into the League if I can't beat him?" Flint took a sip of his tea before looking to the boy.
"Brock's skills are good. His talents take him far beyond that of a local gym leader." Ash nodded in agreement. A question suddenly crossed his mind as he looked to the man.
"How come he hasn't been in a regional championship himself? He has all the skills and strategies of a great trainer." Flint sighed as he put down his cup.
"He… has his reasons." Ash quirked his brow in conclusion. "As soon as these two are done resting, I wanna show you something. Once you see it, you'll understand." Ash couldn't find the words to say as he continued to look to the stranger.
Lilo found herself waiting at the Pokémon Center for Ash as the day wore on. Her mind kept racing back to that battle he had with Brock. While the man was obviously good, he seemed to be a bit distant till he began criticizing Ash's strategy. It was almost like he didn't want to be up there until then. Her musing was cut off when Misty sat in front of her.
"Still no sign of him?" asked the redhead. Lilo could only shake her head in response. "Take it he lost. He should've just listened to Flint when he said to catch another water type or a grass type. Riptide was a good choice, but none of his other Pokémon are up to the challenge."
"You can't go a few minutes without insulting him?" asked the Hawaiian in frustration. "For your information he would've won if Pikachu would have lasted long enough for his ability to take effect." The redhead scoffed as she looked away.
"He would've won if he took my advice. I would've happily lent him some of my Pokémon to use." Lilo gave the girl an incredulous look in response.
"Are you kidding!? That's illegal! He has to use his own Pokémon or else he'll never earn anything." Misty growled as she returned her gaze to the girl across from her.
"So what!? He couldn't beat Brock with the one Pokémon that gave him an advantage! If you ask me he should've waited a few more years." She stood up as she walked towards the exit. "If you need me I'll be looking for Ash to give him some advice."
"You know he'll refuse. He doesn't wimp out." It took everything in Misty's being not to strangle the Hawaiian as she left the building. Stitch growled as he reminded her that he's got his eye on her. The experiment returned his attention to Lilo as she laid her head against the table.
She shouldn't have left Ash on his own. Sure, he bounces back, but that's soon followed by either overconfidence or intense hours of training. If he goes too far into the night then he won't be able to have a rematch. In the end though, there wasn't much she could do to help him. She raised her head as she looked around the room.
It didn't take long for her eyes to find the Pokémart section of the building. Her eyes widened as she noticed the rack of disks. If one were to just glance at them, they'd see a neat soundtrack to listen to or a movie to watch. Lilo smiled, however, as she knew better. "Hold on Ash."
Ash followed Flint as they walked through the town that night. The boy didn't really like the way this was looking. It wasn't usually a good thing when people snuck around at night, and he was getting a strange vibe from Flint as he lead him on. It bugged him that the man seemed to know all too well where he was going. The man suddenly stopped as he pointed to one of the houses.
"There." stated the merchant. They approached the building as quietly as they could, the lights shining bright. The feeling continued to burn in Ash as they approached the fence. Where were they, and what did it have to do with Brock? He wasn't expecting the answer as he peaked over the fence with Flint.
The house was full of children, boys and girls alike. There were toys, blankets and other childish things laid all around the floor where they played. One little girl tripped as her skirt caught on a nail. She began to cry as she ran for a figure with a white hairnet and a pink apron on in the kitchen. The girl pulled on the apron as she bawled her eyes out.
"I tore my skirt!" cried the little girl. The figure turned to inspect the girl with a smile, revealing himself to be Brock. He put the dish he was washing away as he knelt down to pick her up.
"Alright, alright." cooed Brock as he cradled her. "I'll sew it up." Ash couldn't believe his eyes as Brock left the room. He quickly returned with the girl, who was now wearing a white dress, and a sewing kit. The man began to work on the skirt as the little girl held onto his shoulder.
"Is it done yet!?" Another boy watched Brock as he continued to stitch the tear back together. Brock looked back for a split second before returning his eyes to his project.
"Almost." The spectating duo didn't stick around as they continued down the road. Ash looked down with his hands in his jacket pockets. He sighed as Bolt looked to him.
"I sure never thought of Brock like that." stated the boy. "Guess he has a lot on his shoulders." Flint nodded in response.
"Brock has ten little brothers and sisters to take care of, so he could never leave town for regional championships." informed the merchant. Ash looked to the man, his confusion still present.
"Doesn't he have a mom or a dad?" Flint gritted his teeth in response, something that didn't go unnoticed.
"His good for nothing father left town to become a Pokémon trainer. He… never came back." Ash looked down in response, knowing the situation all too well. "Their heartbroken mother tried to pick up the broken pieces, but she passed away."
Ash shook his head in response. He wouldn't know where he'd be without his own mother, and he didn't want to find out. "The point is, Brock's the only one his siblings have left." The boy sighed as he looked up.
"If you keep telling me this then I don't think I'll be able to beat him in our rematch." These words shocked Flint as the man came to a stop. He took a few minutes to process those words as Ash moved forward.
"But… I thought you said you could never win against Brock?" Ash turned to the man, a determined look on his face.
"How can I stop now? If I can't pick myself up after a loss like this then I'll never be a Pokémon Master! I just have to figure out a way to make my strategy work!" He ran off before the man could even get another word out. "Thanks for everything Mr. Flint!"
The man didn't know what to say in this situation. He might have just made a monster Brock will have to face. He looked to the sky as the stars shined above. Maybe if he had the courage that Ash did back then… He shook those thoughts off as he returned home.
Ash stood in front of his entire team as he went over their strategy once again. The plan was simple. Riptide had to weaken Onix to a point where Bolt's static ability could affect it. The tadpole didn't look too thrilled with the plan, still frightened by the sheer size of the rock snake. Ash knelt down to comfort the newest of his Pokémon.
"Look, Riptide, I know he's scary." began the trainer. "You don't have to get close to him if it bothers you, but I really need you to try and fight him. Even if you only weaken him, it'll make winning that badge a lot easier. I'm counting on you here." The Pokémon began to back away, but the others encouraged him to push forward as they cheered for him.
With a slight feeling of hesitation, Riptide nodded to his trainer. "That's the spirit! Now, all we need to do is work on your evasiveness and attack power. Brock probably won't fall for Hypnosis again so easily. Let's get to work guys!"
The Pokémon began to go through exercises in preparation for the next match. Fang and Pidgeotto worked with Riptide to try and help him with his fears and strength. Butterfree flew around as it tried to increase its own velocity. Bolt ran between fence posts in order to practice his evasion skills. Ash smiled as he watched his Pokémon work.
"You know, you could just ask me for help instead of going through this crazy plan." offered Misty as she made her presence known. "It wouldn't hurt to use some of my Pokémon." The boy's smile fell from its place upon that suggestion.
"If you're not gonna help us train then you shouldn't be here. I'm gonna use my own Pokémon to win. We've worked too hard to take the easy way out." Misty growled in response. He dared to diss her help like this!?
"Find then! See if I care!" The redhead stomped off once more as she grumbled to herself. The boy ignored her as he turned to watch his Pokémon train, though another presence soon caught his attention.
"Told her you wouldn't do it." stated Lilo as she passed by Butterfree. Stitch walked up to Pikachu as the rodent stopped for a break. "Looks like you've got a new plan." The boy chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Same strategy, more training." argued Ash. "I'm hoping to go for a more combat focused approach. This time Riptide's gonna actually hit the big guy. That way Pikachu's ability will have a better chance of affecting it." Lilo nodded as she held her hands behind her back.
"That's a good plan, but Onix was a pretty tough opponent. I bet if Bolt had a more effective move he'd be able to get a few good hits in too." Ash sounded off his interest as he rubbed his chin. She did have a point. He sighed as he shook his head.
"There aren't any moves that he can learn that will be very effective." The rodent nodded in response as he sounded off his frustration. Lilo's smirk didn't change as she brought one of the disks front and center.
"Well… not one he can learn on his own." Ash's eyes widened as he took the disk. He couldn't believe it. He looked to his companion for answers, instantly taking note of her bashful grin. "There was a kiosk where they were selling them so… I asked which ones Pikachu could learn."
"Did I ever tell you how amazing you are?" The girl blushed at the comment as the boy looked over the disk. "Looks like we have a lot of work ahead of us Bolt! Ready to get started!" The Pikachu sounded off his determination as he ran to his trainer, ready to win the next battle.
It took a few days to get things ready, but Ash and the gang stood before the Pewter City Gym. The boy worked hard for this one moment. From learning that new move to improving their power, his Pokémon were more than ready for the challenge. He stood at the door of the gym, hesitating after the last time he stepped foot inside. Lilo grabbed his hand, helping him to calm down.
"You've got this." reassured the Hawaiian. "Win or lose, we'll be right by your side." Misty rolled her eyes in frustration, hoping that they would hurry up. Ash sighed as he looked to the door. He pushed it wide open as he looked to the same place he first met Brock; the man surprised to see him again.
"I'm back Brock!" declared the Trainer from Pallet Town. The man smirked cockily as he stepped towards the repeat opponent.
"Haven't you learned anything?" asked the Gym Leader. The boy before him only smirked in response.
"Yep! I've actually learned a lot these past few days! I'm more than ready to take you on!" Brock's smirk grew at those words. He hated to say it, but he was starting to like this kid.
"Well then, show me how much you've learned. Same rules as last time." Ash nodded as he walked into the building. It didn't take long for the field to be set up again. Brock pulled out a Pokéball as Ash did the same.
"Let's go Riptide!" The tadpole was unleashed from the orb. This time, however, he stood his ground as he growled. Brock chuckled as he looked to his opponent.
"I can see where this is going. Go Geodude!" The living rock was unleashed from the ball, roaring as he floated midair. "Take him out quickly with Gyroball!" The Pokémon did as instructed, flying at the Poliwag in a vortex
"Dodge and use Bubble Attack!" Riptide jumped to the side as Geodude careened into one of the large boulder. He then sent a bunch of bubbles at the opponent, hitting him dead center. The living boulder was still floating, but he already seemed to be weakened. Brock looked on in surprise.
"You really powered up that Poliwag during the past few days. I'm almost impressed." Ash smirked as he cracked his knuckles.
"We're just getting started! Use Water Gun!" Riptide launched forward a torrent of water, but Geodude was quick to move out of the way. This dance continued until both sides began to tire out. Lilo cupped her hands around her mouth in excitement.
"You can do it Ash!" cheered the Hawaiian. Stitch sounded off his own cheer as he pumped both fists into the air. Misty sighed as she squatted down. All of the sudden the group were surrounded by Brock's brothers and sisters as they cheered for their big brother. Brock growled as he threw his arm to the side.
"Finish it with Seismic Toss!" commanded Brock. Geodude took the chance to jump at Riptide after another Water Gun was fired. He grabbed a hold of the tadpole's tail, squeezing tightly as to stun him. He then spun around with his foe in his grasp. Ash growled as he looked to the spinning Pokémon.
"Use Double Slap to throw him, literally!" countered Ash. Riptide planted its feet as it started to skid across the ground. He flicked his tail as he lifted Geodude above his floating space. The tadpole smashed the living boulder into one of the rocks top first before spinning to throw him away. Geodude crashed into the wall, creating a dust cloud.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Geodude laid in a crater like the last time, the same swirling eyes upon him. "It took me almost a whole day to fix that! How is that even…" Ash chuckled in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Accidents strike twice." Brock groaned as he returned his Pokémon to the Pokéball. He pulled out another orb as he prepared for a repeat.
"Let's see how far you've actually come! Onix go!" The rock serpent was unleashed once more, letting out another roar. Riptide shuddered as it looked up to the intimidating opponent. It closed its eyes as it steeled its nerves for the…
"Riptide return!" The audience was caught off guard as Ash recalled his water Pokémon. He couldn't really be that dense. Brock was even confused as he looked to the boy.
"What's with you? He would've been your best shot at taking on Onix." The challenger shook his head in response.
"I didn't wanna push him too hard. He already hurt his feet with that last move. He deserves a good rest." He then looked down to his partner once again. "If you're ready buddy."
Bolt nodded as he dashed onto the field. Lilo smiled as the kids pointed out how cute he was. Misty groaned as she fell back on her rear.
"He's doomed." declared the redhead. Brock seemed to share the same sentiment as he looked over the scene. He couldn't help but sigh as the Pikachu's cheeks sparked.
"The Pikachu again?" asked the gym leader. "I honestly feel bad for him. It must be hard to have such a weak and stubborn trainer." Bolt growled as Ash clenched his fists.
"Come on Bolt, let's show him just how weak we are!" declared the challenger. Bolt ran forward as he charged the rock snake. Brock shook his head in response.
"So be it. Use Bind on him!" Onix rushed to ensnare the rodent, roaring all the way. He began to twist his tail around the rodent, but it was able to jump out of his oncoming snare. "Don't let him get away."
Bolt ran as he continued to out maneuver the rock snake. Over and over he jumped out of the tail. Brock growled as he tried to figure out what was going on. "Just hit him with Tackle and get this over with!" Ash's smile turned to a smirk as he threw his arm to the side.
"Now!" Brock jerked back at the sudden declaration. As Onix drew closer Pikachu suddenly leapt into the air. He turned around as he held up both paws, slowly falling back to earth. He smacked them against the ground, creating a small area of green below him.
Onix suddenly felt a snag on his rocks as he let out a roar. His risen half fell to the ground with a hard thud, shocking all around. Brock could hardly believe his eyes as the dust settled.
"Onix! What happened!?" The snake rose from the ground as it moved back. A small knot of grass withered as it returned to the ground below. "That was Grass Knot!"
"No way!" cried Misty in shock. "Pikachu can't learn grass type moves!" Lilo waves her finger in the air as she sounded her disagreement.
"Unless you have the right Technical Machine." corrected the Hawaiian. Misty's eyes widened as she looked to the field. Brock growled as he looked to his now panting Pokémon. He couldn't help but feel impressed.
"You caught me off guard." admitted the gym leader. "I can't help but admire your commitment. That being said we won't stop! Use Dig to bypass the Grass Knot!" Onix suddenly burrowed under the ground, making it impossible for them to tell where he was.
"Run for it Bolt!" cried Ash. The Pikachu didn't need to be told twice as he ran across the stadium. Onix burrowed below as he followed the rodent's movements. Bolt jumped to one of the boulders as Onix resurfaced. It nearly missed its target by its tail as it rose from its hole.
"Keep at it! Try and bind that Pikachu!" Onix dived into the ground once more. Bolt dodged surface after surface as he kept just out of the rock snake's reach. Ash growled as he tried to think of a plan.
The field was suddenly littered with holes as Onix continued its assault. Bolt soon found himself low on energy as he stopped to rest on a rock. This proved to be a mistake as, before Ash could earn him, he became ensnared in Onix's tail once more. Ash began to panic as his Pikachu once again found itself being squeezed on all sides. He lowered his head as he began to lose hope.
Brock sighed as he shook his head. Some people never learn. He raised his hand to call his Pokémon off, when it suddenly squinted its eyes. It roared out in shock as it loosened its grip around Bolt. "Onix!"
Ash looked on in surprise as the rodent was able to free himself. His eyes widened as he remembered the original plan. Lilo smirked as she watched the scene play out.
"Pikachu's Static came into play!" cheered the Hawaiian. "Onix is paralyzed!" The kids and Misty watched on in shock as Onix continued to jerk. Ash noticed the opportunity as he clenched his fist.
"Use Grass Knot!" ordered the challenger. Bolt nodded as he smacked his paws against the ground. The plant once again rose from the ground in front of Onix. The stone snake was too busy trying to overcome the stinging feeling to notice as he ran right over it. He fell over once again, this time landing on his side.
"Onix!" cried Brock. The rock snake remained on his side as electricity began to surge from him. Stitch cheered before blowing raspberries at the large Pokémon. It was true what they say: the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Ash raised his arm as Onix began to rise again.
"Let's finish this Bolt!" He suddenly felt a weight on his being as his next sentence was caught in his throat. 'I can't do it! I can't beat Brock! I can almost imagine his little brothers and sisters holding me back.'
"Open your eyes Ash!" cried Misty, the boy having thought out loud. Ash opened his eyes to find that his imagination wasn't deceiving him. Each and every one of the kids were doing anything they could to hold him back, one of them even hanging from the front of his shirt.
"You leave Onix alone!" cried the boy in the front. "Brock worked really hard to raise him you big bully!" Ash tilted his head in confusion.
"But I'm not a bully." argued the trainer. The kids were having none of it as they continued to hold him back. Brock put one foot forward in disbelief as he glared at the kids.
"What are you doing!?" demanded the elder brother. "Let go of him! This is an official battle, and we're seeing it through till the end!" A girl hanging on Ash's left shoulder shook her head in denial.
"But Brock, we know you love your Pokémon so much!" denied the child. One of the boys on Ash's right arm turned his head to look at Brock.
"That's why we can't bear to watch Onix take another attack!" added the boy. Ash looked over the kids as they continued to weigh him down. He sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Bolt return!" ordered the challenger. The rodent sounded off his confusion as he marched on back to his trainer. The gang couldn't believe their eyes as the children began to release their captive.
"What do you think you're doing Ash!?" shouted Brock. "We still have a match to settle!" The boy helped one of the younger kids back to the ground before turning to the man.
"Looks like now isn't the best time to continue this battle. I have to get Riptide taken care of, but when I come back I'll win for sure." He walked out the door with Bolt by his side. Lilo and Stitch were quick to follow him as Misty sighed.
"What was he thinking?" asked the redhead as she found herself alone. "Just one more hit and he would've won." Brock had this same thought in mind as he looked out the door. He began to walk across the field when a thud caught the remaining few off guard. Where Onix once hanged his head, a dust cloud covered the area.
Ash sighed as he walked down the road. He almost had that one match. If he actually got a good Tackle in, that badge would've been his. The boy couldn't bear to see all those kids upset, however. He took the loss hard, but it really wasn't the best time.
"Looks like it's back to the drawing board." stated Ash in defeat. "There's no way Brock's gonna fall for all that again. He'll be even more prepared for us." Bolt sounded off his agreement with a sigh. Lilo rubbed the boy's shoulder with a soft smile.
"It was sweet of you to not let the kids down." reassured the Hawaiian. "Even if you have to start all over, I bet you one hundred percent that after that match you'll be ready to face him again real soon." Ash sighed as he looked to his friend.
"Maybe I'll move on to another gym and work my way back to Pewter City. That way I'll be more experienced and better prepared for the rematch. Hey, you guys could even help us out with some training." Stitch sounded off his interest as he walked in between the duo. Honestly that battle had gotten him ready for a fight, so he would be more than happy to oblige with the proposal.
"Ash wait!" cried a familiar voice. The duo turned to find Brock rushing towards them. "Hold up!" He skidded to a stop as he tried to catch his breath.
"Brock? What're you doing here?" The man took in one last big breath as he regained his composure. He then held his hand out to the trainer.
"You forgot this back at the gym." He opened his hand revealing the Boulder Badge. It looked like a pin in the shape of a cut and polished stone. Ash shook his head in denial.
"I can't accept this gym badge. I lost, forfeited even." Brock returned his gesture as he clutched the badge once more.
"Actually, Onix passed out a little bit after you left. He couldn't keep battling, so officially you won that match." Ash's eyes widened at those words. He actually beat Brock? "There's something else I wanna say."
The man walked over to the riverside as he looked to the horizon. "I've never actually been fond of Pokémon battles. I get more joy out of raising them then making them battle. I wanna be a Pokémon breeder but my brothers and sisters need me, so I can't leave." Lilo nodded in response, understanding the whole sibling dynamic from Brock's point of view.
The gym leader turned to Ash as he once again displayed the Boulder Badge. "You saw the potential of your Pokémon where I only scratched the surface. You considered their individual strengths and weaknesses. Heck, you even found a move that Pikachu could learn that I completely overlooked. I want you to take this badge and live out my dream for me."
Ash looked to the badge in silence for a bit. This was a lot of pressure being put on him right now. He didn't fully know if he could do it. Bolt brushed up against his leg, giving him a reassuring cheer. Ash nodded with a smile as he reached out for the badge.
"Alright. I'll make both of our dreams come true." Ash shook hands with Brock as he took the Boulder Badge from him. Lilo and Stitch shouted their congratulations as Ash looked down at the badge in his hand. This was the first step to becoming a Pokémon master. Speaking of, a lone footstep broke the atmosphere.
"Brock, you should go and follow your own dream." stated Flint as he made his presence known. The group turned to the merchant in shock.
"Flint?" asked Lilo in surprise. Brock's smile fell into a scowl at the mention of the man's name. The merchant pulled off his beard and his boggin, revealing that he didn't look that different from Brock.
"My father." stated Brock with distaste. Ash shouted in realization as he looked to Flint.
"You mean YOU'RE the good-for-nothing father who left home and never came back!?" asked Ash in shock. Lilo gasped at the revelation, Stitch growling from behind her. Flint nodded his head with a sigh.
"That's right." acknowledged the man. "It was me. I couldn't become the great Pokémon trainer I wanted to be and because I was such a failure, I was too embarrassed and ashamed to go back to my family." Ash shook his head in disbelief.
"Then why help me instead of Brock? Wouldn't you want to support your son?" Flint shook his head as he approached the group.
"You reminded me of myself. You didn't seem to have a chance." Ash groaned as he lowered his head, not exactly fond of the blow to his pride. The man then looked to his son. "It's time I started taking care of my family again, and for you to live out both of our dreams Brock."
"I have a few things to say to you first." stated Brock as he began to search through his jacket. Flint sighed in response.
"After all these years I know how you feel about me. Go ahead and get everything off your chest." He held out his hands as Brock handed him something. He was prepared for a lot of things… but being given a needle and thread was not what he had in mind. He looked to his son for answers as he lowered the objects from his face.
"Suzie always rips her dresses, so you better learn how to sew, and Timmy only eats cold spaghetti for breakfast. Tommy likes cornflakes for dinner…" Flint began to panic as he quickly put the needle and thread away.
"Slow down, slow down! I can't right that fast!" The man then pulled out a notebook and pen as he wrote down what he just heard.
"Cindy sleepwalks, so you'll have to tie a bell to her wrist. Forrest loves to play with stray Pokémon, so you need to monitor him when they're around. The twins never wanna take a bath so you have to…" Ash tuned out at that point in the list. All he knew from that point that Flint had a long afternoon ahead of him.
The sun shined in the sky as Ash and friends took their leave of Pewter City. The young trainer marveled at his badge as he remembered the trials he had to overcome to earn it. It took sweat, hard work and a thoughtful gift to turn the tide in his favor. Now his mind was set on the next gym badge he would earn. Of course, there was one thing he couldn't forget that came out of the crew's visit to the city.
"Hey Ash?" asked Brock as he walked up beside the trainer. "Are you sure it's okay for me to come with you guys on your journey? I don't want to impose." Ash waved the new companion off with a smile.
"You aren't imposing on anyone." reassured the trainer from Pallet Town. "It'll be nice having a fresh face around." Lilo nodded as she walked beside the big guy.
"I agree with Ash." stated the Hawaiian trainer. "It'll be great to have you on board. It gets so boring only having two of us. No offense Ash." The boy waved her off with a smile.
"What about that girl following us?" questioned the former gym leader. "I thought she was with you guys." Misty harrumphed as she kept close behind the group.
"You two better not forget about my bike!" roared the redhead. "I'm gonna keep following you till you pay me back!" Ash groaned as he clenched his fist.
"I know, I know!" cried the boy in anger. He grabbed a hold of Lilo's hand as he began to run. "Come on guys! Let's see if we can lose her!" The Hawaiian blushed as the boy pulled her along, Bolt and Stitch following close behind.
"Wait for me guys!" shouted Brock as he tried to catch up with the group. Misty growled as she chased after them.
"You won't get away!" roared the girl once more. "Do you hear me! ASH! LILO!" The group ran off down the road in this game of cat and mouse.
And so, with a new ally by their side and Misty close behind, Ash and Lilo are one step closer to accomplishing their dreams. With a new move in Bolt's arsenal, will Ash be ready for the perils ahead? Will Lilo ever find her way home? Find out next time as… Hey, what's that up ahead?
A drill suddenly surfaced as it left a large hole. It lowered back into the ground. A familiar duo rose from the hole covered in dirt and bruises. A Meowth rose up between them as he coughed up some dirt. James groaned as he had one hand outside the hole.
"I told you we'd make it!" cried the purple haired man in victory. "Next time, we make sure they're coming before we dig the hole!" Jessie growled as she looked to her coworker.
"Well if you didn't lose the pitfall trap then we wouldn't be in this mess!" roared the woman. "This is all your…" She was suddenly interrupted as Ash walked over her head. He was soon followed by the others as they stepped on a member of Team Rocket each. The trio waited for more punishment as the wind blew by.
"First we're buried alive, then we're trampled on." The two humans suddenly hugged each other for comfort as they found their footing.
"We've hit rock bottom!" cried the duo. Meowth began to groan when the dirt gave out beneath them. They fell back into the hole of their own creation. Stitch looked back for a bit, almost sure he heard something. He paid it no mind as Misty gained ground on them, remaining ever clueless to the tragedy of Team Rocket.
Welp! That about rounds up this chapter. Now before you go calling me out on my move choice, let it be known that I actually did my research. Pikachu can actually learn Grass Knot from a TM, or TR in the case of Sword and Shield. If you don't believe me, then you can look it up on Bulbapedia if you want to check it out. As for why I went with Grass Knot instead of Iron Tail… I kinda wanted to do my own thing and overcome the episode's way of dealing with Onix.
Anywho, what did you think of the chapter overall? Did you like the changes I made? What do you think of Pikachu learning Grass Knot? Remember to leave a review and I'll try to get back with you as soon as…
BOOM!
Jessie: HELP! AUTHOR HELP US!
James: THIS BALD GHOST SHOWED UP AND ATTACKED US!
Meowth: WHAT EVEN IS A CHIAOTZU!?
Inkaliber: UGH! THIS GUY AGAIN!... Gotta go take care of this loser. This is Inkaliber, signing out.
BANG!
Inkaliber: NAPPA! GET OUT OF MY STUDIO!
Ghost Nappa: BUT I WANNA BATTLE TEAM ROCKET! MY CHIAOTZU IS ABOUT TO EVOLVE!
Chiaotzu: SAVE ME!