Enjoy the chapter!
The forest was soon out of the way as Ash, Evelyn, and Misty where now walking down a rocky road. It wasn't long before Ash spotted something in the distance.
"Hey, guys! Look over there!" Ash said.
Evelyn and Misty interrupted their conversation to look at where Ash was pointing, and smiled when they saw Pewter City.
"Yay, Pewter City!" Misty exclaimed.
"Phew... For a while there, I thought I was gonna be in Viridian Forest for the rest of my life." Ash sighed, setting down a rock.
"I wouldn't say exactly my whole life, but I thought we'd be in there for a while. Fortunately, Samurai show us the way out." Evelyn said.
Suddenly heard a nearby voice. "Pewter City is gray, the color of stone. This town has always been famous for stone."
The group spot below them, a bearded man wearing a red hat.
"What the...? Who's this old guy?" Ash asked.
"Never met him." Misty shrugged.
"He must be a local resident." Evelyn said.
"You're right kid, the name's Flint. And your friend is sitting on one of my merchandises." Flint said.
"Huh?" Ash blinked, before scrambling on his feet. "Oh! I'm sorry... You mean you sell rocks?"
"They're Pewter City souvenirs. Do you want to buy some?"
"No thanks, we're not interested." Evelyn said.
"My friend and I are traveling to become Pokémon trainers." Ash said, as Pikachu sighed in exhaustion.
"Well, you're Pokémon sure looks worn out." Flint said, looking at Pikachu. "How about I show you the way to the Pokémon Center?"
"That will be greatly appreciated." Evelyn smiled.
"And by the way..." Flint said, looking at Ash. "That'll be two dollar for resting on my rocks."
Ash, Evelyn and Misty fall over in disbelief at what he was demanding...
Timeskip...
Half an hour later, Flint, as he had promised, led the group to the Pokémon Center, where Ash and Evelyn handed over their Pokémon for recovery.
"Please, revitalize my Pokémon." Ash plead.
"Me too, and can you check the condition of my Spearow wing? It got broken and Nurse Joy nursed it back in Viridian City, so I'd like to know how well it's healing." Evelyn said.
"Of course, put your Pokémon on the tray and I'll take care of them right away." Nurse Joy said, as Ash and Evelyn put their Pokémon on the tray. But at the sight of Nurse Joy Ash blinked in confusion.
"Huh, Nurse Joy?" Ash said, confused.
"Yes, I'm Nurse Joy."
"But why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in Viridian City?" Ash asked.
Nurse joy chuckled. "I can understand the confusion, the Joy in Viridian City is my little sister. I heard nice things about the two of you from her."
"Huh, thank you."
"By the way have you two seen that poster?" Nurse joy asked them, before walking away with the two trays with the help of her Chansey. Ash and Evelyn both turned to the left and saw the poster Misty was looking at.
"Wow, Pokémon League Regional Championship! All right!" Ash exclaimed, excitedly.
"Wait, Ash, before you get excited, we have yet to register for the League so we'll need to do that before we challenge Brock for our first badge." Evelyn said.
Suddenly, laughter interrupts them and they look back at Flint.
"Don't tell me you two are planning to challenged Brock?"
"That's what we are planning to do once our Pokémon are healed." Evelyn replied.
"Yeah! We'll beat him and get our first badge!" Ash said, which prompt Flint to laugh once more.
"You'll both beat him?" Flint laughed as he walk away leaving the group behind. Evelyn frowned as she watched the man walk away, at how easily he dismissed them.
10 minutes later, the group is in the food court having a small lunch.
"Ooh... That Flint is trying to make a foul out of me..." Ash said, irritated.
Evelyn puts a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Calm down, he's just trying to rile us up."
"You are not both seriously thinking you can win? Gym Leaders are different then your everyday Pokémon Trainers. They're much, much tougher." Misty said.
"Of course, I think I have a chance to win, that's why I have been preparing for it." Evelyn replied.
Misty nodded before turning to Ash. "What about you?"
"Bah, I'm sure there's nothing that we can't handle." Ash said.
"Tell you what, Ash. If you ask nicely, I'll help you too."
"Mmph... I don't need your help." Ash said, before continuing to eat, which annoys Misty.
"Fine then! There's no way that you'll be able to beat Brock!" Misty yelled, before walking away.
"Oh yeah!? We'll see about that!" Ash yells back, before looking at the table and seeing the bill. "Hey! You can't leave us with the bill! Get back here!"
"It's okay, Ash, I'll help you pay the bill." Evelyn said.
Ash smiled, as they both take out money and put it on the check when suddenly a voice in the intercom was heard.
"Ash and Evelyn! Your Pokémon have made a full recovery! I repeat, Ash and Evelyn!"
They immediately head for the front desk.
"Here you go, no more waiting. Your Pokémon are all back to normal." Nurse Joy said as she handed over their Pokémon. "Oh, and Evelyn your Spearow wing is recovering nicely, so you should be able to start training him slowly."
"Alright." Ash smiles as he picks up his Pokéball while Pikachu climbs onto his shoulder.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy. I'm sure Spearow will be happy to heard that." Evelyn said as she picks up her Pokéball.
Shortly afterwards, they registered for the League, and left the Pokémon Center and headed for the gym. It didn't take them long to arrive, as the gym was close to the Pokémon Center. The gym was a stone building with the name of the gym carved into the stone.
"So, this is Pewter City Gym?" Ash asked.
Evelyn nodded. "Yeah, it even say so on the building."
"Alright! Let's go in!" Ash exclaimed, excitedly.
They open the doors and head inside. Once inside, it's pitch-dark and so they walk cautiously.
"HELLOOO!?" Ash called out.
Silence settles in when, suddenly, a light shines on a person at the end of the room.
"Who goes there?"
This catches them by surprised, they turned around and notice the young man at the end of the room. He was sitting with his leg crossed.
"You must be Brock. I'm Ash from Pallet Town and I'm here to challenge you!" Ash declared.
Brock look at him for a moment before turning to Evelyn.
"And you?"
"My name is Evelyn, and like my friend, I'm from Pallet Town, and I'm also here to challenge you." Evelyn replied.
"I see..." Brock said. "Is this your first Gym battle?"
"Yes." Evelyn answered.
"You know, gym battles are different from other battles? There are some special rule." Brock said.
"What kind of rule?" Evelyn asked.
"We'll be using two Pokémon each." Brock explained. "Now, who's going to be the first to battle me?"
"That would be me, I challenge you first." Ash replied.
Brock nods, before looking at Pikachu standing next to Ash.
"How long have you been with that Pikachu?" Brock asked him.
"Hmm... About two week, I guess..." Ash answered.
"I see... Your Pikachu's still in its cutest stage... He can't win." Brock bluntly said, causing Pikachu to fall over in shocked. Brock then turn towards Evelyn. "And what about you? How long have you had your Pokémon?"
"About two weeks as well." Evelyn answered.
Brock nodded, but Ash was getting impatient and interrupted them.
"Hey! We'll worry about our Pokémon and you worry about yours, got it!?" Ash exclaimed.
"Hmmph... Suit yourself. As the Gym Leader, I have to accept every challenge... So let's get this over with." Brock said, snapping his fingers, causing the light to flicker on. The walls on either side of the room open as boulders begin to emerge and advance towards Ash and Evelyn.
When they noticed the rocks getting closer, they quickly ran and stopped at the challenger's box just as the rocks connected to create the battlefield. Brock then jumps on the gym leader's box and pulls out his Pokéball.
"Let the match begin!" Brock declared.
Evelyn takes a step back and sits down on a nearby bench.
"Good luck Ash." She told him.
"Thank you." Ash smiled, before looking down at Pikachu. "Alright, Pikachu. I choose you, buddy!"
Pikachu ran onto the battlefield.
"Onix, go!" Brock said, as he throw his Pokéball. The Pokéball released a giant rock snake onto the battlefield, which roared when it emerged.
Evelyn frowned at the sight of Onix. "He's definitely not fooling around if he sends it first..."
At the sight of Onix towering over him, Pikachu grew scared and ran off towards Ash. Who yelped in surprised as Pikachu climbed up to his waist and tap one of his Pokéball.
"Hey! This is your battle, Pikachu. Not Pidgeotto, now go." Ash said as he pushes Pikachu back onto the battlefield.
Pikachu tries to find the courage to face Onix despite his fear.
"Onix, Tackle attack!" Brock ordered.
At the order, Onix roared and lunged at Pikachu, who let out a shriek and darted out of the way of the attack. Pikachu kept running to escape Onix's attack, only for it to grab Pikachu with it's tail.
"Onix, Bind him now!" Brock ordered once more.
Onix immediately started squeezing Pikachu tightly, causing Ash and Evelyn to gasped in horror.
"Pikachu, Thundershock!" Ash yelled, desperately.
Having heard Ash, Pikachu tried to shock Onix, only for his attempts to be futile as his small and weak attack weren't doing anything to Onix.
"That's not good... Electric attack from Pikachu won't do a single damage to Onix..." Evelyn muttered, worried for Ash.
"You haven't raised Pikachu very well. Such weak electric attack can't hurt Onix." Brock said as his Onix continues to squeeze Pikachu.
"Pikachu, return!" Ash said, as he attempts to return Pikachu to his Pokéball. But each red beams were being blocked by Onix's rock body... "He's being blocked. I can't bring him back."
"Ash, you have to forfeit!" Evelyn yelled, as she watches Pikachu being squeeze harder. "Before its too late!"
Ash gritted his teeth. "CUT IT OUT!"
"Do you surrender?" Brock asked.
"I... I do..." Ash replied.
The bell made a clang, signaling Ash's forfeit, ending the Gym battle. Ash picks up his Pikachu and walks out the door, just as Evelyn was about to follow her friend, Brock called out to her.
"Do you still want to battle?" Brock asked her.
"I'd rather not, my friend needs me more." Evelyn said.
Brock nodded in understanding. "Very well, then. I do have a slot available later this evening if you'd like to postpone."
Evelyn nodded and quickly went out to join Ash. Ash carried his Pikachu while Evelyn walked beside him.
"How's Pikachu?" Evelyn asked, looking at Pikachu with worried.
"He's not looking too good." Ash replied. "I... I couldn't do anything against him..."
"Of course, there's nothing you could do, Onix is a rock and ground type which means electric attacks are ineffective against him. Even your other Pokémon couldn't have done anything... Well, Butterfree might stand a chance with its Confusion attack and its Powder attack but even so... That's why I suggest you teach Pikachu Iron Tail, so that you can have an effective attack against him." Evelyn said.
"So my best bet would be Pikachu perfecting Iron Tail and Butterfree?" Ash asked.
Evelyn nodded as they continued on walking, when they suddenly encounter Flint. Ash blinked in surprise, while Evelyn raised an eyebrow, wondering why was he standing in front of them.
"Come with me, you two." Flint said, motioning for them to follow him.
"Huh?"
"We should follow him to see what he want." Evelyn said.
Ash nodded as they followed Flint to a small cabin where he made Pikachu a small bed for him to recover and he then made some tea for himself and his guests.
"Have you fought Brock yet?" Flint asked Evelyn.
"No." Evelyn shakes her head. "Our match has been postponed later this evening since I wanted to stay with Ash after his lost."
"I see..." Flint nodded before turning towards Ash, who looks down. He then set the tray with the tea down on the floor. "Everyone loses sometimes. You can't let that get you down." He told him.
"I know... But I didn't just lose... I stunk." Ash said gloomily, Evelyn looks at him worriedly, not knowing how to cheer him up. "Brock's way better than me... I could never enter the League if I can't beat him."
Flint sips his tea. "Brock is very good, his own talents could take him much further than simply being a local gym leader."
"If he's as good as you say he is. Then why doesn't he take some time off and try to enter the league?" Evelyn asked.
"He has his reason." Flint said.
"Huh?"
In front of the confused looks of both, Flint led them outside, not before Evelyn had let her Bulbasaur out so she could take care of Pikachu, who was still recovering. He led them back to the gym, but this time they went behind the gym to a house. The three sneak up to the back porch and hid behind the bushes to see children playing in the living room. There were ten young children and a familiar person in the back washing dishes. One of the girls ran up to the man and showed him her torn skirt.
"I tore my skirt." The girl said, upset.
Brock sighed. "Alright, alright, I'll sew it for you."
Ash and Evelyn watch the scene, shocked. While Brock begins to sew up the skirt.
"Is it done yet?" The girl asked, impatiently.
"Just a minute." Brock answered.
Evelyn watches with a smile the way Brock behaves with his siblings. Shortly afterwards, they're off, strolling through the city as the sun sets.
"Wow. I sure never thought of Brock like that..." Ash said, Evelyn nodded in agreement.
"Brock has ten little brothers and sisters to take care of. So he could never leave town for the Regional championships." Flint said.
"Doesn't he have any parents?" Evelyn said.
"His good-for-nothing father left the family to become a Pokémon trainer and they never heard from him again. Brock's heartbroken mother tried her best to hold things together, but, sadly she left as well. Brock's the only one his little brothers and sisters have left." Flint explained.
"I better not listen to anymore sad stuff. Next time I have a match against Brock, I might not have the heart to beat him." Ash said, surprising Flint.
"But you said that... you said you could never win a match against Brock." Flint said, bewildered.
"Yeah, well I changed my mind. If I can power up Pikachu, I'll beat him." Ash said with determination.
"Hm... I may know a way you can super-charge Pikachu." Flint said.
"Huh!? You do?" Ash asked.
"I do." Flint nodded, he then turns to Evelyn. "And I do believe you have your match with Brock soon."
"Huh?" Evelyn looked at her watch and it was indeed getting close. "I better get going if I don't want to be late." She said, then she turned to Ash, who was smiling at her.
"I wish you the best of luck."
Evelyn smiled. "Thank you and good luck with your training."
Evelyn left immediately, but before going to the gym, she had to return to Flint's cabin to retrieve Bulbasaur. Once that was done, she headed for the gym and was soon there.
Evelyn now stands in front of the gym door, breathing deeply to try and calm her nerves, as she doesn't want her nervousness to affect her or her Pokémon during the battle.
'Okay... You can do it, you prepared for this moment this past week..' Evelyn thought, and took one last deep breath before opening the door and step inside...
As Evelyn stepped in the room she noticed Brock sitting in the same spot he was sitting earlier, clearly waiting for her.
"So you actually showed up. I thought you wouldn't after watching your friend losing badly." Brock said.
"Of course, I would. I prepared for this match over this past week, so I won't get discouraged so easily." Evelyn replied.
"I see... Well, as the gym leader here, I will accept your challenge. The same rules as before will apply, two Pokémon each." Brock declared as they both prepared for their match. "So, Evelyn. Are you ready?"
"Yes! Let's do it!" Evelyn smirked.
The bell sounds the start of the battle.
"I'll start things off with Geodude! Go!" Brock declared as he sent out his first Pokémon. Evelyn took out her Pokédex to scan the Pokémon.
"Geodude, the Rock Pokémon. Found in fields and mountains. Mistaking them for boulders, people often step or trip on them." Evelyn's Pokédex buzzed.
"He must be saving Onix for last..." Evelyn muttered as she put her Pokédex away and pick one of her Pokéball. "Nidoran, I choose you!"
She send out her Nidoran onto the battlefield, Nidoran looked around until she spotted Geodude standing in front of her.
"Alright, Nidoran this is our first official gym battle, we have been training for this moment this past week. So, follow my lead and we will win this." Evelyn said, Nidoran nodded. "We will start this off with a Poison Sting attack!" She declared.
Nidoran charged at Geodude as her horn glow purple, but sadly he managed to get out of the way, causing the attack to miss.
"Don't let her rest, Geodude. Use Tackle!" Brock ordered, Geodude obey and slammed into Nidoran sending her towards a nearby rock.
"Nidoran uses the rock to regain your balance! And then use Double Kick!" Evelyn called out.
Nidoran uses her back legs and bounces off the rock towards Geodude, she kicks and spins around to hit him a second time, sending him to the ground.
Brock narrowed his eyes. "It's going to take alot more to take my Geodude out. Seismic Toss, now!"
Geodude lunged at Nidoran and grabbed her in his arms, causing her to shriek in surprise as she tried to free herself from his grasp. Evelyn gasped, but before she could declare a counterattack, Nidoran had already been thrown to the ground by Geodude, she collided hard with the ground and slowly began to rise.
"Oh no! Nidoran, are you okay?" Evelyn asked, worriedly. Nidoran answered with a nod. "Can you continued?" She asked, and Nidoran nodded once more. "Alright then! Use Double Kick!"
"Counter it with a Tackle, Geodude!" Brock counterattack.
Both Pokémon launched themselves at each other, closing the distance between them, when suddenly Evelyn called out.
"Dodge now! And use Double Kick!"
Just as Geodude was about to strike her with Tackle, Nidoran managed to dodge and delivered a kick, then a second, sending him flying towards a nearby rock, against which he collided hard. Geodude struggled to get up, and after a moment he lay on the floor with swirls in his eyes.
Brock looked surprised to see his Geodude beaten, then turned neutral again as he returned his Geodude to its Pokéball. "Return." Brock said, he then look at Evelyn. "Did well, but sadly it won't be enough to beat my next Pokémon. Go, Onix!" Brock told her as he threw his next Pokéball, releasing the giant snake onto the battlefield.
Once on the battlefield Onix roared, making Nidoran to take a step back. Evelyn, having noticed that her Nidoran was out of breath after fighting Geodude, decided to call her back. "Nidoran, return! You deserve a rest after a well-fought battle."
Brock watches Evelyn pull out another of her Pokéballs and wonders what she's planning.
"Bulbasaur, I choose you!" Evelyn called out, sending out her starter onto the battlefield.
"Sending out your starter, huh? Let's see what you can do... Onix, use Tackle!" Brock declared the first attack.
"Bulbasaur counter it with a Vine Whip!" Evelyn counterattack.
Onix lunges at Bulbasaur, but just as he's about to hit her, she delivers an uppercut with her vine, knocking him back.
"Alright!"
"I wouldn't cheered so soon. Onix, use Bind!" Brock said.
"Oh no... Bulbasaur uses your Vine to dodge and don't let it trap you!" Evelyn quickly declared.
Bulbasaur shoots one of her vines at a nearby rock and wraps it around the rock, then uses it as she swings towards the rock, narrowly dodging Onix's tail.
"Don't let her rest! Use Tackle!" Brock ordered.
"Dodge, once more!"
Onix lunges at Bulbasaur at high speed, but unfortunately this time Bulbasaur is unable to dodge and is knocked back by Onix. Bulbasaur stood up slowly while Evelyn bit her lower lip, pondering ways to win, when she suddenly heard a beep from her Pokédex. She quickly took it out and checked the notification. A smile formed on her face at the sight of the notification...
"Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf!" Evelyn declared.
"Dodge!" Brock counter.
Unfortunately, Onix was too close to Bulbasaur to dodge properly, and Bulbasaur launched a wave of leaves at Onix, who recoiled in pain under the effect of the super-effective attack.
"Dig, go underground!" Brock ordered, Onix recovered from the attack and dove into the ground.
Bulbasaur looks around frantically, wondering where Onix will come out, Evelyn frowns, wondering what she could do, until she looks at the hole dug by Onix and an idea pops into her head.
"Bulbasaur use Razor Leaf into that hole!" Evelyn declared.
Brock's eyes widen as he shouts for Onix to escape, but it's too late as Bulbasaur leaps into the air and fires leaf after leaf into the hole, a second later Onix emerges in pain before collapsing, motionless.
"We did it, Bulbasaur! We did it!" Evelyn shouted happily as she ran across the field to her starter and immediately scooped her up in her arms.
"Saur!"
Brock sighs as he recalls his Onix, then approaches Evelyn.
"I must say, you've surprised me, Evelyn. You've raised your Pokémon very well." Brock told her, making her smiled. He then takes something out of his pocket and presents it to her. "Here, this is proof of your victory today... The Boulder Badge." He handed her the badge.
"Thanks, Brock." Evelyn smiled as she took the badge and showed it to Bulbasaur. "This is it! Our very first badge!" Bulbasaur smiled and cheered.
"I take it you're going to wait for your friend to challenge me again before continuing your journey?" Brock asked, earning a nod from her.
"Yes." Evelyn nodded. "And before I go I want to say don't underestimated him... He might surprised you."
"I see... I'll keep that in mind." Brock said.
They bid each other farewell as Evelyn leaves the gym.
Timeskip.
Evelyn was back at the Pokémon center, sitting in the waiting room as her Pokémon were getting healed up after the match with Brock. She deep in thought when suddenly a voice was heard.
"Hey, Evelyn!"
She looks up and sees Misty approach her and sit down opposite her.
"Hi, Misty."
"So... How did your battle with Brock go? Did you lose?" Misty asked, teasingly.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Quite the opposite." She pulls out her badge case and shows Misty her Boulder badge.
Misty eyes widened. "No way! You won!"
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Where you hoping I lose so you could prove your point?"
Misty sweat dropped and quickly changed the subject. "Anyway! I've just seen Ash training his Pikachu to power up its electric attack. I tried to offer my help, but he insists on going ahead with his crazy plan."
"Ash, can be quite stubborn."
Just then, they hear Evelyn's name on the intercom; she gets up and goes to collect her Pokémon, after which she goes to her room to get ready for the night. She would have liked to check on Ash, unfortunately it was getting late, but she hoped his training had gone well.
The next day...
Evelyn ran through the streets of Pewter City, trying to get to the gym as quickly as possible. "Oh no... I can't believe I over slept... I hope I'm not too late." She muttered as she arrived at the gym.
She immediately went inside, just in time to see Ash's Butterfree standing on the floor, panting, while Brock recalled his Geodude.
"Return, Geodude." Brock said, and as he was about to send out his next Pokémon, he remembered what Evelyn had told him the night before. 'Don't underestimated him... He might surprised you.' Which made him smiled a little.
"It looks like you prepared for this match. But, sadly, he won't be enough. Onix! Go!" Brock called, releasing his next Pokémon onto the battlefield.
Ash noticed that Butterfree was tired, so he recalled him and chose Pikachu as his next Pokémon. Pikachu ran onto the Battlefield ready for battle.
"Alright, Pikachu! Let's start this off with Iron Tail!" Ash declared, which took Brock by surprise, as Evelyn raised an eyebrow, wondering if he'd finally mastered it.
Pikachu ran towards Onix as his tail began to glow and jumped, but just as he was about to attack, his tail stopped glowing. Ash gasped in shocked to see that Iron Tail has failed.
Brock narrowed his eyes. "You shouldn't use an imperfect move in a gym battle." He told him. "Now, Onix! Tackle!"
Onix lunges at Pikachu, who panics after his attack fails and because he's still in the air.
"Bounce off him!" Ash yelled, Pikachu managed to land on Onix's head and bounce away from him. "Alright! Now use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu unleashed his electric attack, but unfortunately he couldn't control it, and the attack spread everywhere. Onix received a few blows from the uncontrolled attack, and even a few rocks around the battlefield were hit. One of them almost hit Ash, causing him to yelp.
"Hey, Pikachu! Watch where you're aiming!" Ash snapped, but this turned out to be a mistake as Pikachu stopped attacking, giving Onix the opportunity to catch Pikachu in his tail.
Evelyn gasped. "Oh no! It's like yesterday, if it goes on like this, Ash is going to lose..."
Ash finally noticed Evelyn, and smiled, happy to see her here, then turned his attention back to the match.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt once more!" Ash yelled.
Pikachu obeyed and unleashed his electric attack once more, striking Onix several times. It seems to work slightly, but Onix continues to bind Pikachu more tightly.
"Hang in there, Pikachu! It's working!" Ash said.
"Onix, bind it!" Brock yelled.
Everyone on the sidelines watches in shock as the match continues. Unfortunately, Pikachu begins to tire, as his Thunderbolt attack start to fade. Evelyn watches in horror as Pikachu was about to suffer the same fate as his before, she glance at Ash, who seems ready to call it off. When suddenly...
"Onix! Stop it!" Brock yelled, causing Onix to release Pikachu from the bind.
"No, Brock! I want to continued this match to the very end!" Ash declared.
"There's no point. I really don't want to hurt your Pokémon." Brock said, catching Evelyn by surprise.
Ash gritted his teeth, frustrated at having failed yet again. Suddenly, the sprinklers went off. It seems that the Thunderbolt from earlier had caused a small fire on the hoses, which triggered the sprinklers.
This was bad for Onix as it roared in pain, Evelyn and Ash were surprise.
"Ash! Rock Pokémon are weakened by water!" Misty called out to Ash.
"Pikachu!" Ash called out, Pikachu unleashes a Thunderbolt that greatly affects Onix due to the fact that he was soaked as he dropped to the ground.
"Onix!?" Brock said, in disbelief.
"Pikachu! Finish it off-" Ash started to say but he was stopped. Evelyn and Misty looked at him only to see kids climbing onto Ash, stopping him. "My conscious is holding me back. I can't... bring myself to beat Brock. I'm imagining that his brothers and sisters are stopping me from beating the one they love." Ash.
"Hmm... Ash, you might want to open your eyes." Evelyn said.
Ash blinked and finally noticed the little siblings of Brock holding onto his body to stop him from moving.
"You leave Onix alone! My brother worked hard on raising it, big bully!"
"Believe me, I'm no bully..." Ash said.
"Stop it! Get off, all you!" This is an official match, we're going to finish it, no matter what." Brock said.
"But Brock! We know that you love your Pokémon so much."
"That's why we can't watch Onix suffer from another attack just like when it suffered to the Bulbasaur!"
Evelyn eyes widened at that. 'They must've saw our match yesterday.'
Ash bite his lips. "Pikachu, return!" Pikachu blinked before running back to Ash, much to everyone's surprise, Evelyn blinked at seeing Ash forfeiting again.
"What do you think you're doing? This match isn't over yet, Ash." Brock said, as Ash managed to get the little siblings off of him.
"Those sprinklers going off was just an accident. Winning the match because of that wouldn't be fair. The next time we meet, I will beat you fair and square." Ash said as he began to take his leave, Evelyn quickly follow after him.
"Maybe." Brock muttered as he watches them go.
Timeskip...
Ash and Evelyn were walking down a road together as Ash looked at Pikachu.
"I'm sorry if I was too tough on you, Pikachu." Ash told him. But you really did a great job."
"Pika."
"Guess you feel the same way." Ash smiled.
"You know, Ash. You made the right decision back at the gym." Evelyn said.
Ash shrugged. "As I said, the sprinklers going off was an accident. If I were to win, I'd want it to be fair and square."
As they continued walking, they suddenly heard a voice behind them, causing them to stop.
"Hey! Ash! Evelyn! Wait up, you two!" Brock called.
They turn and see Brock running towards them until he stops in front of them, panting from all the running he's done.
"Brock?"
"Ash, you forgot this." Brock said as he revealed the Boulder badge much to their surprise.
"A badge, for defeating a gym leader? I can't accept that. I didn't beat you, I gave up..."
"Nah, I lost to you. You beat me in battle and in being kind to all Pokémon." Brock said as Ash eyes widened in surprise.
"But..."
"To tell you all the truth, I get more pleasure from raising Pokémon then from making them battle. I don't care about being a great Pokémon trainer, I wanna become the world's best breeder." Brock explained.
"That's an admirable dream." Evelyn said.
Brock nodded. "Ash, I want you to take this and fulfill my dream... Will you do that for me?" Brock asked, Ash nodded and accept the Boulder badge.
"I will! And I will do my best to deserve this, too." Ash said, when suddenly they heard a familiar voice.
"Brock. You go follow your own dreams."
"Huh!? Flint!" Evelyn and Ash blinked as Flint takes off his disguise, shocking them by seeing how much he resembles Brock.
"My father..." Brock said.
Ash yelped in surprised. "Huh!? You mean, you're the good-for-nothing father who left home and never came back!?"
"That's right... It was me. I couldn't become the great Pokémon trainer I wanted to, and because I was such a failure... I was too embarrassed and ashamed to go back to my family." Flint explained.
"But... Why did you help me instead of Brock?" Ash asked.
"You remind me of myself. You didn't seem to have a chance." Flint answered, causing Ash to grumbled. "It's time I started taking care of my family. You go fulfill your dreams and mine."
Brock nodded. "First.. There are some things I need to tell you."
"After all these years I understand how you must feel about me so I want you to get everything off your chest." Flint said.
"Here." Brock said as he took out something from his best and handed it to his father which was revealed to be a sewing string and needle? Which confused them.
"Susie always rips her dresses, so you better learn how to sew, and Timmy only eats cold spaghetti for breakfast, Tommy likes cornflakes for dinner..."
"Slow down! Slow down, I can't write that fast!"
"Cindy sleepwalks so you have to tie a bell on her wrist, and the twins never want to take a bath, so you have to..."
That night...
After handing his father the to-do list, Brock packs up and hits the road with Ash and Evelyn.
"Hey, Ash, Evelyn, are you sure it's okay if I go with you on your journey?" Brock asked.
"We don't mind." Evelyn said.
"Yeah! The more the merrier." Ash added.
"What about that girl over there?"
Turned around to see Misty following behind them.
"Don't forget about my bike, Ash Ketchum! I'm gonna follow you until you pay me back!" Misty exclaimed.
"I know. I know! Pikachu, let's try to lose her." Ash said, as he and Pikachu begin to run ahead.
"Hey!" Evelyn yelled as she run after Ash.
"Wait up, guys!" Brock said as he runs after them.
"Hey! You won't get away!" Misty yelled as she ran after them as the chase was on.
The four trainers run together, towards their next destination, and the next step towards their dreams...
I've decided to increase the number of moves a Pokémon can learn to 6 for the time being, as the Brock battle made me realize that 4 moves was too restrictive.
Evelyn's teams:
Bulbasaur (F) Overgrow -Tackle, Vine Whip, Growl, Razor Leaf-
Nidoran (F) Hustle -Scratch, Poison Sting, Double Kick, Growl-
Spearow (M) Keen Eye -Peck, Fury Attack, Leer-
Marill (M) Huge Power -Water Gun, Rollout, Defense Curl-
Pokémon at Prof. Oak:
-None Currently-