Welcome to Chapter 2.

Something More?: A Pokemon Story

Episode 2: On The Road

The next morning, Delia is up early to cook breakfast when she realizes that Ash's bedroom door is cracked open. She opens it slowly to see Ash and Serena sleeping together, both out like a light.

(To herself): "Congrats to both of you. You deserve each other."

A couple of hours later, Ash and Serena wake up to find breakfast almost ready.

"Morning, mom."

"Morning, son. By the way, congratulations to the both of you."

"How did you find out?"

"The bedroom door was open slightly. Did you.."

"No we didn't. We talked and fell asleep almost immediately."

"Oh, okay. Well, here's breakfast."

"Thanks, mom."

Delia, Ash and Serena eat breakfast and have a conversation.

"So kids, where is the first destination?"

"We're going to Cerulean City, the first contest is being held there."

"Awesome, that city is nice."

"We might stop in Pewter City to meet an old friend, someone Serena hasn't met."

"Who is it?"

"You'll find out."

"I hate surprises, you know that."

"This time I'm keeping the surprise. Consider it "payback" for yesterday."

Serena and Delia laugh at Ash's light-hearted joke.

"Do we want to go ahead and get started on the journey?"

"Sure, let's do it."

"Alright kids, you be safe."

"We will, see you later."

"Mime, Mime!"

"See you later too, Mr. Mime."

For reference, it's around 8am. About 4 hours later, Ash and Serena arrive in Pewter City. Nothing much happened between Pallet Town and Pewter City. They mainly just talked about really anything that was Pokemon related, or just general small talk.

"Well, Serena this is Pewter City."

"It looks…rocky."

"Yeah, this is where my rocks are sold."

"The hell is that?", the both of them say.

"The name's Flint, I sell rocks for a fortune…"

"Alright, Flint cut the act. Where's Brock?"

"He's in the gym, Ash. Along with his millions of brothers and sisters."

"Thanks, Flint."

"Who's Brock, Ash?"

"Brock is a great friend who I used to travel with throughout Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh. He aspired to become a Pokemon breeder, but is now a Pokemon doctor, helping out all the Nurse Joys around the regions. He's also a great cook as well."

"Seems like a nice person to travel with."

"He is. He was also the former leader of the Pewter City Gym, which specializes in Rock types. When I first met him, he was an interesting character to say the least."

"What do you mean?"

"He doubted my abilities as a beginning trainer, and since Pikachu was my first Pokemon, and I only had Butterfree and Pidgeotto as my other two, he thought I didn't stand a chance. The second time I battled him, I accidentally tripped the sprinkler system in the gym, and Pikachu almost defeated Onix, until his brothers and sisters trampled on me and told me it was unfair to see Brock lose that way."

"So I see you still remember our first encounter, huh Ash?"

"No way. Brock, how long has it been since we split ways?"

"Pff, 15 years, but I know you still visit every now and then."

"I know, how's Forrest doing as gym leader?"

"He's doing great, I even think he's doing better at being a gym leader than I am, and that's saying something. Also, who's this?"

"I'm Serena, I used to travel with Ash around Kalos."

"So you're the person that almost beat Aria in the Master Class, and is now a Pokemon Coordinator."

"Yep, that's me."

"Are you also the same Serena that kissed Ash at the airport all those years ago?"

"Yeah, that's also me. Also, we're together now."

"Really? Geez, Ash, never thought you'd be a romantic. You're dense as a rock."

"Not anymore, Brock. Anyway, let's go the gym, shall we."

"Yeah, let's go."

Song of the day: Shepherd of Fire- Avenged Sevenfold (2013)

"Serena, welcome to the Pewter City Gym, basically the HQ of all Rock-type Pokemon Gyms."

"That so?"

"Multiple people around the regions credited my leadership of the gym as inspiration to start their own Rock-type gyms. I basically set the bar really high, and they've raised it, so to speak."

"Do you think Forrest has raised it even higher."

"Definitely. When a Gym Inspector came by, which was actually one of the Nurse Joys, even though Forrest lost, she said that he was impressive, which is why the gym is still running."

"Wait, Brock, are you saying there was a real danger of the Pewter Gym being shut down?", Ash says.

"There was. I didn't transfer the title of gym leader from me to Forrest, so the Gym Inspector kind of got pissed off about it. We solved it though, so no worries."

"That's good. It would've sucked to see the Pewter Gym be shut down for something minor like that."

"Yeah, Ash, that would've been bad. Anyways, let's go inside."

Brock, Ash and Serena go inside the Gym, only for Brock to have a look of sheer horror when they went into the battlefield.

"WHY IS THERE WATER IN THE GYM! FORREST, GET OVER HERE NOW!"

"Hey, this ain't my fault, big bro. I'm angry too. Talk to mom."

"Oh no, not again. Did she?"

"Yes, she decided to put her own spin on the gym once again. Deja vu, right?"

"Don't remind…just, where is she?"

"In the kitchen."

"Okay. Me, you and her are going to have a talk."

"Um, Ash, should we follow them?"

"Yeah, but we probably shouldn't say anything, Serena."

"Got it."

All four of them go into the kitchen, where Forrest's and Brock's mother and father, Lola and Flint, are at, already bickering about the gym.

"Well, honey, I just wanted to test out the prospect of the Pewter Gym being a Water-type gym, while also being a Rock-type gym."

"That's not how it works, Lola. This gym has a major reputation of being the most prestigious Rock type gym in the world, and you're tarnishing it with water?"

"Um, dad, that might've been too much."

"Brock, be quiet for a moment."

"No Dad, let me talk to mom. I won't be as harsh on her."

"Alright, son. Forrest, talk to your mother as well. I'm going for a walk."

"Flint, wait."

"Mom, he's fine. He has a point, and while I appreciate your thought of wanting to incorporate water into the gym, it doesn't suit it."

"Why not? I mean I know that Rock is weak to water, but I actually had a nice thought."

"Does it actually involve Water-type Pokemon?"

"No Forrest, it doesn't. I was thinking that Rock-type Pokemon could use the water in weird ways, like defensively, and in the case of Rhydon, using Surf."

"That isn't a bad idea. I tell you want we'll do. We'll figure out if it could work. I will say though, not that much water on the battlefield. That's a bit much. Remember what happened last time."

"Oh…"

Lola has a flashback to when she tried this last time, with Flint's Golem nearly drowning because its balance was limited to a tiny rock.

"Yeah, Mom, let's remove some of the water, put a tiny field of water on the sides of the battlefield to make it look. Then we can have a battle. If it works, it stays. If it doesn't work, all the water is removed. Deal?"

"Deal, Forrest, let's do the battle after dinner though. I sure all of you are starving."

"Yeah, I sure am starving!"

"When aren't you starving, Ash?"

"Good point, Serena."

"Alright, let's go eat. Oh, Flint, you're back."

"Did you figure something out, Forrest?"

"Yeah, I did, and you'll see after dinner."

"Sounds good to me."

All of them say, "Let's eat!"

How will the battle between Lola and Forrest go? Will the battlefield include water, or not? Find out in the next episode.