That's right, new chapter finally! Grad school was a lot of work this first semester but now I have time off. Thanks for all the support despite my absence!

CH 10 Art and Heart

Artazon City

Ash, Arven and Iono had arrived in Artazon a bit earlier and were currently on their way to the gym. They knew Ash would be itching to get his next gym battle started so they decided to waste no time.

"So what is the gym leader here like?" Ash asked Iono as they walked through the city. She had spent much of the morning vlogging so Ash was happy to not be on camera for a bit.

"Brassius is eccentric to say the least,"Iono answered,"he can come off a bit scary at first but he's a nice guy through and through. He's just a bit of an oddball."

"He's also an accomplished artist," Arven added,"he has some paintings that are super famous here in Paldea."

"Speaking of that, make sure you don't insult his art at all or he may never battle you."

"Oh don't worry I wouldn't do that. I've met my fair share of eccentric people before,"Ash reassured her.

Ash was always surprised at how wildly different each gym leader seemed to be from the others. Despite them all being strong trainers they were all unique in their own way. Ash didn't know too much about art but he would be interested in seeing Barssius' art in person.

"By the way, what type of Pokemon does he use?" Ash asked Iono.

"He's a grass type user so Charcadet will play a big role here again."

"Oh that should be no problem then."

"Remember you have to pass his gym test first Ash,"Arven reminded him,"who knows what he may ask you to do."

"Come on, Arvy Ash has this in the bag!"

"Iono I keep telling you to not call me that!"

"Iono is right Arvy, I got this in the bag,"Ash agreed as Arven groaned.

"Not you too Ash, just don't get too overconfident."

The trio made their way through town towards the gym. However, approaching the door they could see a sign on it. The sign read that the leader, Brassius,was out for the day. This disappointed Ash as he was hoping to get his battle the same day. Seeing the trio, a townsperson who was passing by stopped in front of them.

"If you're looking for Brassius he's out at an art exhibit today."

"Aww man will he be back today?" Ash asked the man.

"Probably not, the exhibit is open pretty late."

"Oooh come on Ash let's just go over there, I wanna see some art!" Iono began to drag Ash away as Arven thanked the man for his help.

Artazon Exhibit Hall

Ash, and the others arrived at the exhibit that had been opened at the center of town. There were quite a few people at the exhibit along with a lot of paintings. Looking at the sign at the front, the trio saw that it was a collection of pieces painted by average people around Paldea, the exhibit being called "As told by the People." Iono was disappointed as she saw a sign that prohibited any sort of recording. Sadly she stuffed her Rotom-phone back into her pocket, which Aren took note of.

"Sorry they generally don't like people recording in these places, unless you're with the press."

Iono sighed,"yeah I know, I just thought it would make a great video."

Arven looked through the crowd to see that they had already lost sight of Ash,"lost him already, probably went to go find Brassius."

"Wait, does he even know what he looks like?"

"He does, I showed him a picture,"Arven answered.

The two weaved through the crowd looking for their companion. They found him at the back of the exhibit waiting to speak with Brassius. The gym leader was currently speaking with some other guests about his latest piece that was on display there. Arven and Iono joined Ash as they waited. After a few moments, Brassius turned to face them, seemingly not surprised Ash was waiting for him.

"I was hoping you'd show up here today, my apologies for not being at the gym but I am quite busy today."

"No that's okay I get it, but is this your latest work?" Ash asked pointing to it. The painting was of Artazon, the windmills specifically.

"Yes, I don't often paint Artazon as I see it on a daily basis, but I wanted to get back to my roots for a change, the people in town like it anyway."

"Does it not have a name?" Iono asked looking at the blank plaque where the name would normally be.

"It doesn't, I wanted a name that incorporates the spirit of Artazon without having the actual name in it. Sadly I have yet to come up with one."

"Is it a creative block?"

Brassius thought for a moment before answering Arven's question,"it is, this is not my usual style of painting so I haven't had that bolt of inspiration yet."

"Ohh I have an idea!" Iono exclaimed happily, bouncing up and down like a child on an eternal sugar rush.

"What is it?" Brassius asked feeling a bit nervous. All the other leaders knew how much of a handful Iono could be.

"Why not pick a few potential names and have people vote on it."

Brassius had to admit that it wasn't the worst idea. It was supposed to be a piece of art that was evocative of life in the city. Perhaps the people would be eager to help pick a name. He was going to ask for her help on other stuff anyway, so why not take her advice.

"That's not a bad idea actually Iono, I will have to come up with some potential names but letting people choose would be good."

"Maybe we could help you pick some names,"Ash suggested.

"I appreciate that but I'll pass,"Brassius decided,"for me you need to have a deep connection to the subject of a painting to truly name it. Let's leave it up to the people of Artazon."

"That's pretty deep actually Brassius."

"I don't think I caught your name?" Brassius asked Arven.

"Arven, I'm traveling around Paldea with Ash and Iono."

"It's good to have traveling companions. Now Ash I figure you are here for the gym challenge?"

"I am yes, but since you are busy I can come back tomorrow."

"Oh no I actually had an idea. Normally do a different gym challenge but since you are here I figure I can spice it up a bit."

Brassius smiled as he pulled out an art canvas with some paint brushes and paints. Ash was certainly confused as he set it up on an easel in front of the trio. Both Iono and Arven were a bit confused too, Iono had heard his gym challenge usually involved finding lost Sunflora in the Artazon hedge maze.

"I want you to show me your art Ash."

"Uhhh my art?"

"Yes, I want to see the art that comes from your very soul. Paint me your masterpiece and I'll battle you."

"I mean I would but I can't paint, definitely not as good as you," Ash answered.

"So you cannot show me your art?"

"No sorry I don't really know much about art either"

"Well then, if you can't show me your art then I won't battle you."

"Wait, you won't battle me?"

"Like I said, I'll battle you if you show me your art, until that I will not battle you."

Ash wasn't sure what to do. He figured the test would be something he could do, but this was beyond his scope. He had no clue what to do now. Art was not something he was knowledgeable about, sure he could appreciate it, but make his own that he could not do. It was frustrating not being able to get a gym battle, perhaps that showed how little his title really meant in Paldea. After having become a world champion he thought everything afterwards would be easy in comparison, but this was just frustrating. Perhaps there was some secret to this test, something he had missed.

Seeing Brassius set up the canvas and supplies in front of him solidified it for him, he expected him to do something that was beyond his scope. Maybe there was a way around this, a way to get him to change the test. Though it wasn't likely as Brassius was firm on his task. Ash was currently sitting on a lone bench in the city hedge maze, he needed some time to think. Pikachu had tried cheering him up but to no avail. Pikachu had run off somewhere and had yet6 to return, though Ash knew he'd be back.

True to his thoughts, Pikachu returned with Iono in tow,"there you are, we wondered where you had run off to."

"Oh sorry I just needed some time to think."

Iono nodded as she sat down next to Ash, Pikachu on her lap,"wanna talk about it?"

"I guess, I was just hoping the gym test would have been something I could actually do. I'm certainly no artist and I hoped he would realize that."

Iono could sympathize but not fully, as she already knew the answer to Brassius' test. However, Ash had to realize it on his own, without flat out telling him. She was fairly certain that Arven had figured it out already too based on the chat she had with him earlier. She just had to get Ash to make the connections himself.

"Brassius asked you to show him your art, are you sure you can't?"

"The most I could do is draw stick figures and I don't think he'd take that as real art."

"All gym tests have a purpose and I'm sure this is no exception, there is always a reason for the requests we give here in Paldea."

"I don't really see the purpose of it though, like what is it even testing?"

"Though is a test always a test?"

Ash gave her a blank stare,"I'm sorry but I don't follow."

"Tests usually test our knowledge on a specific topic or skill set, but is that all they do?"

"I mean like gym battles test a person's skills as a trainer."

"Exactly that is one example, it tells us something about ourselves as trainers. The gym tests can do that too. Any thoughts?"

Ash thought about it for a moment before answering,"so by asking me to show my art he may be hoping to teach me something about myself?"

"Bingo bongo mi amigo, so what is he trying to teach you?"

"That I can 't paint?" Ash asked with a nervous laugh.

"Wrong! That would be a pretty mean lesson, remember the goal is to help you grow."

"So it is meant to help me then?"

"Indeed, now Ash, what do you think of my streaming and vlogging?"

"It is really cool and I'm glad to be a part of it,"he was unsure where she was going with this.

"Well thanks but that really wasn't the point. It's my art of course."

"It's your art?"

"It is, because as Brassius would say, it comes from my heart therefore it is art."

This made it click for Ash, the gears were finally turning in his head. The answer had been right in front of him. The canvas and supplies were just there to confuse him, make him doubt himself. In the end, it had nothing to do with painting, it was about passion. Streaming is Iono's passion, for Brassius it was art and for him the answer was battling.

"Pokemon battles are my passion, and I battle with my heart, therefore it is art."

"Ah spoken like a poet, so well I could kiss ya," she surprised him by kissing him on his cheek,"but yeah you figured it out Ash."

"Let me guess you knew the whole time?"

"Yep, I saw right through his test, Arven did too I think.

"You were trying to get me to realize it without directly telling me huh?"

"Correct, I knew you'd figure it out eventually."

"Well let me go give him my answer."

Back at the exhibit

Ash and Iono found Arven in the same area with Brassius, the canvas and art supplies still out.

"Have you decided to try my test?"

"I have and I figured it out. I'd like to show you my art when we battle because that is my art."

A small smile appeared on Barssius' face,"well done, that was just the answer I was expecting, so you pass."

"I hope you don't mind me asking but what was the point of it?" Ash asked.

"People tell me they are not artists, but I want everyone to know they are one. When we put our heart and passion into it, then it becomes art. Cooking, vlogging, battling, dancing, it all is art. Moves clash and colors swirl, the Pokemon is the art and the field is the canvas, the trainer is the artist. I want all my battles to be art, so I had to ensure you recognized your art."

"It makes sense when you explain it like that, but I'll show you my art and get that gym badge!"