.—.—.
It was always midnight in the belly of the beast.
Ash had heard that saying once from Professor Oak—borrowed from an obscure novelist from Unova, he was sure—and it stuck with him. He realized instantly that the Vermilion Gym was no such beast and midnight would never describe it. Loud, was his first thought, bright and fluorescent came soon right after. Ash had to squint from the influx of overhead lighting. Yellows and greens scorched his vision from wall to wall.
He stumbled as he came close to being knocked to the floor when a trainer stormed out of the Gym. The girl was crying, face red and puffy, as she clutched her unconscious sandslash close to her chest. An amused orange washed over him as even as he flushed a little. Unown had separated from them before they had entered Vermilion City. Even when not present, Unown was watching. That both comforted and unsettled Ash.
The Pallet teen steered clear of the other challengers in the lobby as he approached the receptionist, paid his fee and took a number. Four trainers were in front of him. That number dwindled as another trainer was sent packing from the Gym towards the Pokemon Center with a heavy scowl.
The wait wasn't as long as he had thought it would be. After the trainer in front of Ash was also sent packing with a dejected expression and no badge, the next number was called and Ash entered the battle room. The doors swung open before he touched them and caught sight of the field. It was similar to most were, barren and devoid of all distractions. Ash took the nearest trainer box at the same time as a behemoth of a man bellowed from across the room.
"Another brat? Shouldn't you be at daycare right about now? Looking for your binky?" Lt. Surge was a man closer to seven feet tall than not and as broad as one would expect. The most highly decorated ACE Trainer in the past hundred years made for one intimidating Gym Leader. Ash couldn't help but wince at the volume the man projected.
Noise drew his attention to the upper stands. A group of spectators crowded around the edge of the Gym's balcony, fighting for a better view of the battlefield. With the uniforms they were wearing–slacks and skirts and preppy blazers–Ash made the inference that they were students. A woman in the back seemed exasperated as the two dozen or so students vied for the best seat. Surge sent a nasty glare to the stands and the students quit immediately.
"I'm here for the Thunder Badge." Ash announced with resolve before Surge could say anything.
"Another baby wants some Vermilion wrath?" Lt. Surge barked out a laugh. "Fine, I got some time before I go eat lunch again. How many badges have you managed to scrounge up, little baby?"
"Two." Ash bit out. The number seemed lacking as an answer to the man.
"Two!" Surge repeated with a roar of laughter. The referee on a stand on the sidelines, a dark-skinned woman that seemed as muscular as Surge himself, watched on in silence. "Flint must be getting rustier than I thought, Visquez, sending me all these babies."
"Rainbow and Soul Badges." Ash corrected. "What? Think losing to a rookie with two badges will damage your reputation?"
The students in the stands clamored and made ooh'ing sounds. Surge just scoffed. "You're teething, I'll give you that. What's your name, runt?"
"Ash Ketchum."
Surge lifted a brow at the name. "Three-on-three, standard League rules. Visquez, start it."
The referee, Visquez, held up her right arm. "This battle will be between Gym Leader Surge and the challenger! The battle will be three-on-three with neither side allowed substitutions! The Gym Leader will release first!"
The electric-type Leader snatched a pokeball from his pocket. It expanded in his hand, which did little to make it look any more than a berry to the man, before it opened to release its inhabitant. A pikachu chittered as it appeared on the field, heart-shaped tail bouncing. Ash was unsurprised at the mouse's appearance. Electric-types, but especially the pikachu-line, were something of a specialty to the man. The raichu that dominated his roster only added to the fact.
"So boring." Ash said it just to see Surge's eye twitch. Maybe the audience had something to do with it as well. He retrieved Cove's pokeball and clicked it open. The corphish appeared with an emphasized snap of his claws.
Surge rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "A water-type? You sure you know where you are, brat?"
Ash ignored him. If Gary hadn't gotten under his skin after all these years then neither could Surge. Nor would the jeers of the students in the stands. At this point, he didn't know who they were cheering for. Cove could do this. Visquez announced the start of the match as he adjusted his hat.
"Cook me some lobster." Surge ordered, bored.
"Mud Sport." Ash retorted. Cove gurgled as he plunged his pincers into the field. Immediately the ground liquified into a mud-like substance. The substrate covered the shell of the pokemon like armor as the ground-type move affected the field around it. The rookie didn't understand much about how the move weakened electric attacks in the air but he knew it did. It had something to do with weakening the conduction of the moves. The intricacies were a subject for someone much smarter than him.
Surge seemed interested even as he scratched his stubble lazily. The pikachu sparked its cheeks as a wave of yellow electricity washed over Cove. The corphish twitched but snapped his claws defiantly. Ash gave Surge a grin. "Mud-Slap and Double Hit."
The muddy terrain at Cove's feet made Mud-Slap near instant. The gobs of wet silt were hurled at the electric mouse as the crustacean advanced. Pikachu skittered away as the heavy claws swung at it with enough force to ruffle its fur from the near misses. Earthy grime splattered on its flank even as it bounced away.
"Quick Attack. Thunderbolt." The Lightning Bruiser ordered.
Ash watched as Cove was outpaced entirely. He hated that Cove was limited by his speed but it was just a fact. Corphish were not speedsters while the electric-types Surge trained were. Quick Attack gave the mouse too much of an advantage for the water-type to catch up. Sparks of electricity worked through Pikachu's fur as its charge sacs gathered it near its ears. It chittered as it unleashed a bolt of lightning as its mud-covered opponent. The minute the bolt was sent it thinned and lost some of its impact thanks to Mud Sport.
Cove gurgled as it struck him. Mud Sport or not, Ash knew that definitely wasn't pleasant. Shell Armor helped with his defense too but an attack was an attack. The ruffian pokemon scuttled forward despite the pain and struck his opponent while it was momentarily stationary. Mud-Slap left dark streaks of gunk on the pokemon's face as Double Hit sent the electric-type backwards. The squeak as the mouse went tumbling was accompanied by Surge scoffing.
"Quick Stun." Pikachu darted forward again at the order, charge sacs crackling.
The rookie frowned as he considered what Quick Stun might be. Some combination of moves, he was sure. "Smother its charge sacs."
Pikachu struck Cove with Quick Attack, as Ash had expected, but followed it up with a Nuzzle that sent arcs of voltage down the shell of the corphish. Cove had acted as soon as it struck him. Vice Grip latched onto the mouse's lithe neck as the crustacean sent it face-first into the muddy terrain. Mud Sport submerged the electric mouse with the insulating silt.
Cove attempted to strike with Double Hit. Instead, he shook and spasmed violently as pikachu zipped away once more. Another Nuzzle that had momentarily paralyzed him. That should have been expected, he knew, but it made him frown all the same. Still, the pikachu looked about done. If it tried to remove the gunk blocking its charge sacs it would slow down enough for Cove to finish it. Ash sent Surge a condescending smirk. He was enjoying this a bit too much but seeing Surge's eye twitch gave him a rush.
"You're too cocky, runt." Surge spoke up. The monster of a man stood to his full height as he crossed his tree trunk arms. "Pikachu, Volt Tackle."
Bright yellow arcs of electricity shrouded the pokemon as it thundered forward. Ash didn't have a chance to advise Cove as the pikachu shot off. The charge sacs were still covered but it didn't seem to slow the move down any. Cove raised his pincers in front of him to block the move as best he could. Metal Claw coated itself over the claws with a silver shine. The corphish was still learning the move but the steel-type move was his best hope at diverting the power of Volt Tackle.
Ash blinked dots from his vision as Pikachu rammed into Cove. The resulting crash from the two pokemon colliding sent mud and dust flying as a bright electrical discharge lit up the field. Ash winced as Cove was forced back and, before he was completely counted out, sent one last attack at his opponent. Pikachu squeaked as the Metal Claw that was barely a Metal Claw struck it in its midsection.
Ash winced as Cove slumped and slammed into the field harshly. Pikachu recoiled as Volt Tackle struck with the blowback the move was known for inflicting on its user. The electric mouse was only able to make it a few paces before it too collapsed.
Cove vanished in a flash of red. Ash whispered a few words to the corphish's pokeball as he returned it to his bandolier. The corphish had done his best and had matched a pokemon that wielded his natural weakness, he couldn't ask for any more from any of his team. Surge recalled Pikachu with a grin. "Not bad, brat. Putting a water-type in against me is usually psychotic, but that thing wasn't nothing. Mud Sport was a surprise. You get it bred for that?"
Ash's expression pinched. There was an insinuation there that he didn't appreciate. "No. I caught him naturally."
Surge barked, though whether it was meant to be a laugh or a scoff was unclear. "Luck then."
"You can say you lost to dumb luck if it makes you feel better." Ash bit out as he palmed the pokeball of his starter.
The Vermilion Gym Leader released his next pokemon in lieu of a verbal response. The form of three steel spheres conjoined together coalesced. Ash watched all three segments turn their eyes to him and stared blankly. The magneton levitated above the field; by manipulating the magnetic fields around them the steel-types were able to float without possessing the ability Levitate.
Greed appeared with a growl. The fighting-type flicked his ear as he stared at the magnet pokemon that floated opposite him. The electric/steel-type was emotionless as it observed its new opponent. "Greed, soften it up."
The panda made it clear he intended to leave nothing to need softened.
Ash felt the hair on his arms rise. Whether that was from the static in the air or something else he didn't bother to consider. "Work Up."
Greed growled as he surged with adrenaline. The move was still not perfect but the essentials were cemented in the pancham. Now it just needed more practice. Greed's black and white fur stood on end and the twitching of his ears became more pronounced as Work Up took hold.
Surge grunted. "Thunderbolt."
Ash didn't need to tell his starter to avoid the arch of electricity shot at him. Greed dodged vertically as he growled at the unblinking magnet pokemon. "Play it close, be mindful of paralysis."
Ash saw the twitch of his partner's ears that confirmed he'd been heard. Or it might have been twitching due to the strain from Work Up, it was hard to tell from the trainer box. He shook his head. Greed was his first pokemon, his most versatile fighter, and his most trusted companion. Ash knew the pancham was more than able to battle without him needing Ash to choreograph every step. He was trying to take Janine's advice to heart and this was a step in that direction. They had trained hard and worked on strategies and techniques before the Gym challenge, the rest was up to Greed.
Ash couldn't think of any pokemon he trusted more.
Magneton droned a dull tone and sparked. Ash compared the drone of Magneton and Unown and found the difference stark. One was a droll single note, the other was a symphony of colors and music. "Thunder Shock." Surge commanded. Magneton crackled and sent a jolt forward. Greed paid his little head as he advanced, zigging and hopping to avoid the electrical attack that would paralyze him. "Fine, Gyro Ball the damn bear."
The steel-type began another emotionless buzz as it began to spin at a rapid pace. Greed was close now and fire encircled his fist. The magnet pokemon spun itself forward the last yards to its opponent and met him head on. Ash couldn't distinguish one segment from another as it blurred into a single ball of metallic silver.
Greed grunted as the ball neared him. Instead of jumping away–a futile effort when the approaching pokemon would just redirect itself–the pancham stood his ground. Fire greeted steel as Fire Punch struck at the spinning steel-type. Greed was only able to savor the solid strike for a mere second before he was also hit.
Ash saw the Spark as the two pokemon collided. Electricity worked its way over his starter as the fighting-type twitched. Magneton didn't escape unscathed as it levitated backwards, drooping lower than it had previously. Surge took the time to snort at the outcome.
"After it!" Ash ordered. Greed growled as he followed the steel-type on the field. The panda was more sluggish than he had been. His muscles were stiff and not listening after the direct hit from Spark.
Surge was not one to let his opponent dominate the field. "Metal Sound!"
The Pallet trainer slapped his hands over his ears without hesitation. Greed had no such opportunity and flattened his ears to try and help muffle the sound. A horrific metal screech filled the Gym as Magneton's top two magnets glowed as it grinded them together. It reminded Ash of Bug Buzz in Janine's Gym.
This time, at least, Ash knew his pokemon wasn't going to be left out to dry now that he couldn't hear his directions. Greed was on a warpath as he bounded forward until he was directly under his target. The fighting-type was able to ignore it in favor of making a direct vertical leap. Magneton glowed a dull white over its entire body and let out a Flash that went off just as the bear leaped.
Greed forced his eyes shut as the influx of bright light temporarily blinded him. His leap missed as Magneton lurched diagonally and sent a Thunder Shock to the panda. Greed landed on the ground hard as Thunder Shock made him growl. He twitched involuntarily and Ash frowned as his starter had trouble regaining control of his motor functions. A momentary paralysis was never a good thing in a battle. Greed was able to dodge a second Thunder Shock, the jagged electrical move scorching the earth black, before attempting another jump.
This one was better than the last as the pancham grabbed on to the Magneton. The steel-type dropped low, levitating low enough that it was barely off the floor of the field. It was clearly not prepared for the weight of an entire fighting-type hanging from its magnets. Surge barked out an order Ash couldn't hear but it didn't make Greed hesitate. The panda Crunched into Magneton's topmost segment as he climbed his way up.
Surge seemed almost impressed as Greed only yelped as Magneton covered itself in electricity with Spark. Still, the resilient fighter refused to let go. Instead, Ash watched as his starter lodged his two stocky legs into the space between the electric-type's segments and straddled the topmost segment like one would ride a rapidash.
Fire Punches rained down onto the topmost segment. Fire heated up steel and buzzes and growls made a twisted orchestra. Ash slowly let his hands fall from his ears as he realized Metal Sound had stopped, the two magnets now digging themselves into the legs of the bear. Karate Chop struck Magneton's lower two segments as Fire Punch was repeated onto the highest. Greed was relentless and only continued.
The electric drone was far from taking the assault without response. Spark and Shock Wave cracked as it lashed out. Surge's battler spun in slow circles as it tried what might have been a Gyro Ball but the added weight of Greed made the move too slow to be effective. Surge barked out another command Ash couldn't hear. Immediately, the two pokemon were nose diving into the battlefield.
Greed yelped again as the two slammed into the barren battleground. Iron Head from his opponent dug into his chest as he was crushed between the ground and the steel-type move.
The dust settled as Greed sluggishly rose from the dent in the earth. Magneton gave one last weary buzz as it stopped moving. Surge made no noise as he returned the magnet pokemon with a flash of crimson. Ash met the man's gaze with a straight back.
"Was that luck too?" Ash questioned. Visquez coughed but he thought he might have seen a smile before she covered it up. Surge took his right hand and used to jerk his chin to the side. A crack from the man's neck made Ash cringe and the Gym Leader did the same in the other direction. When he was done, Surge tossed a pokeball into the air and caught it when it rebounded from the force of the release. It struck him that the monster of a man was smiling.
"Not bad, brat, not bad. You're lucky you're only a baby with two badges; one more and I'd have Raichu sizzle your little runts. Well, about time to wrap this up." Surge tossed his pokeball to the field lazily and a bright beam saw their final challenge materialize.
It was a pokemon Ash had never seen before. It was rodent-like with a pair of yellow cheek sacs on its face similar to a pikachu. This was certainly no pikachu though, as it was released into the air and glided down onto the field. Under its stubby arms was a Thin, yellow membrane that resembled a cape. The wings reminded him of a golbat a bit, which made Ash realize far too late that this electric-type was almost certainly a flying-type as well. Electric-types were, as a general rule, not flyers. But exceptions existed within all things. The flying squirrel's hair stood on end as small static was exchanged between its two large, round ears as it was produced from its cheeks. The electric squirrel snickered as Greed eyed it down.
"Still good to go, buddy?" Ash asked his starter. Greed nodded with an exhausted huff. Of course he didn't need to ask. Fighting-types had a thing against retreating, Ash had almost forgotten that. When had he started considering his first partner more of a dark-type? The pancham wasn't even a proper dark-type yet.
Ash stowed the thought for later as their opponent moved. The electric squirrel, Emolga, was as quick as a pokemon its size should be. Greed was caught off guard when it immediately came for him. Thunder Wave immediately sent a shroud of electricity at the panda pokemon. Greed used Bullet Punch to swipe the move away, the steel-type helping divert it in part past him and lamely into the barrier, but not completely as it shrouded him and he was still forced to avert his eyes from his opponent .
A mistake that Ash cursed as he saw what the squirrel was trying to conceal.
Angry, black clouds swirled above the head of the electric-type as it bounced on its feet. When it reached its arms up, the clouds sprawled upwards. The glass skylights that had allowed the sun to trickle in were blocked like a veil descending. The Gym lights prevailed and allowed the field some modicum of visibility, but the dark was winning. When the clouds were finally stationary, the rain started like a switch had been flipped.
"She's something, aint she?" Surge barked a laugh that sounded like a crack of thunder heralding a particularly malevolent storm. Ash felt a stone drop into his stomach as the Rain Dance pounded the field with droplets. "Emolga, sizzle it."
Emolga chittered a cackle and then the rodent was off like a shot. A neon glow emitted from her mouth as a gob of electric webs were fired. Greed went wide, letting the squirrel's webs hit the dirt. The fighting-type growled.
Ash didn't like the situation they were in. Flying-types were not opponents Greed could handle unless he could get his hands on them. Emolga would never willingly let that happen and would fly circles around the panda pokemon. He disliked the matchup but once the squirrel took to the sky it was game, set, match. Ash was a little unsure as to why it hadn't already taken off. It was after the squirrel had cloaked itself in electricity that Ash understood what it was planning. It wasn't aiming for the pancham. The trainer paled. "Don't let it take off!"
Emolga couldn't flap its wings and fly like other flying-types. No, its membranes were for gliding exclusively. If it couldn't find, or rather make, a way for it to get into the air then it was not nearly the threat it seemed. Unfortunately, it had already set up its makeshift trampoline. The Electroweb sat on the ground where it had missed Greed, coiled and layered. That miss had been intended.
Greed went after the rodent but it was simply faster. The only reason he caught it was by the benefit of reflex and the short distance between them. The panda seized as he touched the emolga covered in Spark but this was the only way. Ash knew it and so did Greed. Ice Punch formed as Greed grabbed at the thin membrane of the electric-type.
"Iron Tail!" Surge ordered. Emolga didn't think, it acted. The black tail gleaned a metallic silver as it cloaked itself with steel-type energy. The appendage whipped backwards into Greed and sent him sprawling. The action caused a two part reaction.
Emolga continued on its way towards its electric trampoline without breaking stride but screeched in pain. Greed was on his last legs as he stood but a look of satisfaction was stamped on his face. In his paw was a small section of yellow membrane. Ash gave the torn membrane an uneasy look.
Ash didn't know if he should blame the Ice Punch that Greed used to effectively freeze the area he grabbed or if it was the Iron Tail that threw him back. It was likely both. The pancham had been seizing from the electricity and muscles didn't like releasing things when they were shocked. Greed discarded the membrane to the field. Emolga, to its credit, continued on its way and found its target. An electrical collision between the Spark-coated Emolga and the Electroweb made Ash blink away dots. When he looked back, the squirrel was gliding in the air.
The missing membrane's impact on the was noticeable. If a flying-type's membrane or wing is damaged, it could significantly impair their flying ability. They might still be able to glide or fly to some extent, but their control and distance would be reduced. Ash, for his part, would say that Emolga being in the air at all was impressive.
Surge was neutral as he gave his final command. "Thunder."
Greed's fur was soaked from the rain. Thunder, combined with the Rain Dance, would shock the pancham so thoroughly that Ash would worry for long-term nerve damage. Greed disappeared in a beam of red as the Pallet trainer returned him to his pokeball. His starter had gotten his licks in defeating Magneton and impairing Emolga, he deserved a rest and as many berries as Ash could afford.
But only after they had won.
"He's withdrawn." Ash told them simply, even as the knowledge that Greed would not be happy with that decision came to mind. The panda tended to go until he dropped. Vasquez nodded and announced it. The students in the gallery cheered–Ash wondered if his support had been so easily won over at their age. Considering he had always cheered for Lance because the Champion's dragon-types looked cool and hit hard, it probably was. Surge was still silent as he waited for Ash to release his next pokemon.
Ash reached for Graveler's ultraball. The ground-type would finish the weakened electric pokemon. It would have been a hassle with it flying everywhere, but Greed had done his part to mitigate that. The boulder pokemon would finish the battle. He hesitated for a moment. Ash stopped before revealing his next pokemon as he eyed Surge
The Vermilion City Gym Leader was, by every account he'd heard and read, a hardass with a penchant for demeaning his opponents. Still, Ash hadn't heard any accounts of the Gym Leader being outright cruel. Yet the man kept the squirrel in the battle even after a piece of its membrane was torn off. He must have confidence in it. If Emolga could stay in the air despite the membrane injury then Graveler could still find himself in a skeet shoot. The Rain Dance would also interfere with the rock-type. There was more to his decision if he was candid. Ash couldn't deny that defeating Surge without using a ground-type would bring him immense satisfaction.
He redirected his hand further up his bandolier and grasped Nut's pokeball. The nuzleaf appeared with a flash. The grass-type blinked as he took in his surroundings. A gentle bite of the abyss came to his mind. A question.
"Think you can finish this battle up, buddy?" Ash asked in lieu of an answer. He felt the stain on his subconscious spread as excitement boiled up. That was as good an answer as any.
Emolga was gliding through the air as rain continued to fall. The electric squirrel crackled energy from its cheeks as Surge howled a command. "Boost. Keep in the air."
Ash blinked as Emolga performed what looked like a Discharge. The electricity flashed as it was loosened into the damp atmosphere. It crackled around the field as the water conducted it. Emolga coasted forward, hit a spark in the rain, then bounced off and propelled into the air again. Ash was right to think Surge had something up his sleeve.
Electric platforms.
It was a fascinating application of combining moves to solve the limitation the squirrel had. The fatal flaw with the technique being that it relied on Rain Dance to allow the Discharge to build up the platforms. Once the Rain Dance was outlasted or dismissed, the platforms were too. Rain Dance was like other weather-altering moves; it took time for a pokemon to perform initially. It required concentration and the caster couldn't be disturbed or they would fail to properly set it up. That was why Emolga had distracted Greed while it conjured the move. The only pokemon Ash had seen use Rain Dance and be able to cast it within seconds had been Rainer's Poliwrath in Stone Town. However, Poliwrath was a different case entirely. Poliwrath was a water-type and Rain Dance was far easier for water-types to use, just the same as Hail was for ice-types. This was true for most weather-altering moves with a couple exceptions; Sandstorm and Sunny Day.
Sandstorm, being a normal-type move, could be grasped by any pokemon that could learn it. Sunny Day was natural for most fire-types but it also came to many grass-types with a little practice.
And Nut, for all his dark-type proclivities, was a grass-type at heart.
Ash grabbed hold of the endless void in his mind as Nut boiled the tar colored ocean. "Make cover, then Sunny Day." It was little more than a whisper from his vocal cords but in his mind the intent was clear. He saw Nut flick his leaf in understanding.
A furious wind whipped forward from Nut at the flick of his leaf. Razor Leaf shrouded the nuzleaf in the sharp foliage as he began putting his hands together. Surge barked out a few orders and Emolga banked a sharp right. A static built along its fur as a Thunderbolt arched outwards. The bolt would have struck true if the Razor Leaf wasn't obscuring the nuzleaf in the center. Instead it arched too far and came close but did not directly strike its target.
Sunny Day crept upwards, a bright sphere of energy, as the clouds that spat down rain began to dissipate. Black clouds made way for the natural light to shine upon the field. The bright sphere centered over the battlefield and joined the sun in beating down any shadow on the field. Ash swiped a hand at his brow as the move amplified the sunlight. Beads of sweat clung to his hairline under his hat. He pulled the brim down to block the light and squinted.
Nut was amped now, his Chlorophyll ability making him an even bigger threat. He slashed his leaf forward, cackling like he'd been given ten too many cups of coffee, and whipped an Air Slash at the electric-type. The squirrel chittered as it did another sharp maneuver to avoid the slash. Emolga lit up with lightning as it did another mid-air turn. It was losing altitude now. Greed would have been able to use his powerful legs to grab it from that height.
"Final push," Surge barked. The electric squirrel did a tight u-turn that made Ash frown. It was headed directly towards the nuzleaf now, fur buzzing with electricity.
"It's gonna try a direct attack," Ash told his partner.
The squirrel flew forward as if to confirm his words. Thunder Shock sizzled out with a flick of its ears. The yellow glow of Electroweb was spat in conjunction. Nut enraged the void in Ash's mind as the Thunder Shock washed over him. The wood-like skin of the grass-type would splinter before Nut allowed himself to take that hit unanswered. The Electroweb was ducked under as Nut rolled to the side and inhaled. A couple dozen seeds were spat in rapid succession at the incoming foe.
Leech Seed was fast but Emolga was too. It did what amounted to a barrel roll as the seeds shot past it. One clipped its ear as another struck its back. The squirrel winced but did not otherwise acknowledge the attack. It was gaining momentum as it righted itself and flew straight at Nut's position on the field.
Its wings gave a blue-grey shine as it approached. Acrobatic helped speed it forward as its cape-like membrane glimmered with a move Ash knew not. The emolga chittered what was probably profanity as it was mere feet away from its target. Spark once again overtook its body as it closed the difference.
In Fuchsia, Nut would have had no choice but to endure the attack. An attack that would have left him unconscious. But now he had another move up his sleeve. The nuzleaf moved quickly as the earth below him moved out of his way. Dig gave another route of escape as Emolga impacted the field. The ground cratered as it scorched the ground and crushed where its target once was.
Ash didn't have to give an order as Nut tunneled an exit. He arose from the ground, dirty but unharmed. His thick hand clenched into a fist as it darkened with Distortion. The nuzleaf swung the Sucker Punch at the dazed squirrel. The hit connected to the body of the electric-type and sent it a foot into the air. Nut must have not have appreciated the earlier Thunder Shock as he immediately followed it up with a Headbutt. The hit made the squirrel squeak, the move sending it tumbling away.
A moment of no motion and the emolga was declared out of action. Visquez called the match as the Lightning Lieutenant returned his battler to its pokeball. Surge blinked from across the field, stunned for a moment, before breaking into a roaring laugh.
Ash didn't stop the satisfaction that dawned on his face. Nut lifted his fist in victory and splashed the abyss in his trainer's mind. Unown must have sensed the good spirit as it didn't fight against the black void. The nuzleaf rushed back to Ash and grinned.
"Nut, buddy, you're amazing." Ash lifted a fist and got a fist bump in return. This was a proper showing for his partner.
Surge lumbered over to them, boots doing their own damage to the Gym floor as the man all but stomped over. Instead of upset or dismissive, the giant of a man was grinning. "Ketchum, that wasn't a bad showing. Not at all."
Ash smiled and fixed his hat. "Thanks, Lieutenant. Emolga will heal up, right?"
The man snorted. "What, we in the force now? It's Surge, brat, and she'll be fine."
"Right. Thanks for the win, Surge." Ash snorted as Nut cackled.
The Gym Leader clicked his tongue. "Nothing wrong with gloating over a win. Your team ain't nothing, Ketchum. Your corphish has potential, not everyday I see a water-type that can handle one of mine with some degree of fairness. Mud Sport is a boon so use it."
Ash knew that much. "Planned on it. It's an egg move."
"Figured. That panda of yours was a tough bastard, relentless, and not afraid of some pain. That nuzleaf is a vicious little shit. I don't know much about any of them but you have potential." That was almost nice. It would have been a great feeling if Surge wasn't looking at him like an ursaring would a steak. "Challenge yourself. Come back after a few more badges and we can make it a battle worth watching."
He wanted an actual challenge. Ash could respect that. "We'll see. I'll be pretty busy winning the Indigo Conference and all."
Surge roared another laugh. "Next time you walk in here, expect to get fried extra crispy. Now get your badge and get outta here, pint-size. I need to get lunch and you're slowing me down. "
Ash figured that was as clear a dismissal as he'd get. The teen rubbed Nut on the head as they walked away from the battle area. The desk was crowded with other trainers trying to put in their name to challenge the Gym. Ash had to shoulder his way to the front. The attendant gave him one look before reaching below her and into a keyed drawer. She removed and handed him a golden badge in the shape of an octagon. "Here's your proof, kid. Good work."
The trainers around him immediately turned on him. He grimaced as they stared, mostly at his Thunder Badge. He pivoted towards the doors but was met with the sight of a gaggle of students lined up near it. The same students that had watched his battle and were now pointing at him and whispering. He grimaced and darted towards the door and away from the suddenly very cramped building.
"Ash!" The trainer flipped around at the call and spotted an approaching figure. One of the students had split off from the pack and was inbound. The other students behind him watched as he sped away and the woman in heels, the teacher most likely, followed him at a subdued pace. Ash finally recognized the kid as he stopped and tittered on the balls of his feet. Mikey exploded into a jumble of words. "That was awesome! My class watched every other trainer get beaten so quickly, then you came in and defeated Surge! He's brutal!"
"Mikey." Ash was taken off guard by the near reverence in the kid's eyes. "Good to see you. Yeah, Surge was tough. His emolga was a surprise. I wasn't expecting a flying-type."
Mikey nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, there aren't many electric-types that fly. Sparky talked about wanting to find an emolga of his own but there aren't any breeders for them in Indigo. Rainer told me Surge got his from a friend in Unova."
Emolga were from Unova then. That was good to know. The teacher caught up with the boy and put a hand on his shoulder as she gave Ash a tired smile. "Michael, please refrain from running off again. Say your goodbyes so we can get back to the school."
Mikey deflated before he got a gleam in his eye. "Sorry, Ms. Lawson. This is Ash. He's a trainer and a friend of my brothers." Ash thought that might be pushing their relationship a bit but didn't interrupt. "Would it be alright if I went back to the school after we caught up?"
Lawson lifted her glasses and rubbed her tired eyes. Afterwards she looked at Ash. "Would you be willing to take him back to Pokemon Tech?"
Ash considered declining. He saw Mikey's puppy dog eyes and resigned himself. "I'll bring him back."
She nodded and turned to Mikey. "Be back before curfew or I'll call your brother."
Mikey nodded with a wide smile and turned back to Ash. The boy flushed in embarrassment when their eyes met. "Sorry. I should have asked you first."
Ash knew what it was like to want to see more than a formal education would allow. He led the younger boy outside of the Vermilion Gym. "Don't worry about it. So, how has Pokemon Tech been? You just started, right?"
"Started two weeks ago!" Mikey said happily. The patch with the school's logo sat stitched into his breast pocket, unblemished. "The instructors are all really cool. Mrs. Lawson–Dora Lawson–is super smart. She worked for the Sayda Lab before coming to Pokemon Tech. My classmates are kinda snobby, but my friend Joe is nice! He has a bellsprout that likes to dance."
Ash's mind unwillingly conjured an image of a bellsprout dancing the tango. Weirder things had happened, he supposed. He felt Unown perceive the image unwillingly and send him a question over their bond. That made him smirk. "That's nice. How's Eevee? I thought he'd be at your heels."
Mikey patted the pokeball on his belt. "Good. The school lets us have our pokemon on us and we can release them on school grounds but we can't release them off it. This girl in my class–Giselle–released her cubone to carry her bag on the trip to the Vermilion Gym. She got in trouble but kept saying how it was beneath her to carry her own bag."
Ash snorted. Pokemon Tech had a reputation for hosting the students that were used to a higher station in life. Daughters of diplomats and sons of esteemed professors. The average graduate of Pokemon Tech had good formal education without any of the practical applications. When they became trainers, they almost always ended up in another school–the school of hard knocks. And that had become the school's unofficial nickname.
"I imagine. I can't say there was anyone like that at Pallet Academy." Ash saw Regal above them, following from the air. Her Keen Eye made tracking him from a distance a breeze.
"Woah! You went to Pallet Academy? I was thinking of going there myself but Pokemon Tech is closer to Stone Town. My brothers wanted me closer to home and Sparky is already pretty familiar with Vermilion from when he worked for Surge. Plus, I already have Eevee for a starter so I don't need a Kanto starter." Mikey sucked in air. "Getting a Kanto starter would have been really cool though."
Ash nodded. He wondered if he had sounded this excitable before starting his journey. Scratch that, he definitely had. "Being close to home is good. I can't imagine what it'd be like if I'd even gone as far as Viridian City for school. Where are you staying in Vermilion?"
"The school dorms. They aren't as nice as home but they're okay," Mikey answered. "Cafeteria kinda sucks though."
Pallet hadn't had any dorms for its students. It worked fine for some of them–Ash, Gary, and Leaf already lived in Pallet–but others, like Ethan, had to find someplace in town to stay. There was a program that the academy took up with the residents of Pallet Town. A few families would host the students that didn't have other accommodations in their homes.
"Nowhere compares to home, Mikey." Ash imparted the wisdom he had learned on his journey. Despite having seen a few of Kanto's largest cities and having experiences he wouldn't exchange for anything, nowhere compared to home. There was simply too much of him in Pallet to ever say otherwise. Mikey nodded, a quick motion that told Ash he didn't give the words much weight. That was fine, he would eventually.
"I heard you say you have the Soul Badge. How was Fuchsia City? Did you stop in the Safari Zone? What's your team like now? Why didn't you use your graveler against Surge?" Mikey bombarded him.
Ash figured he'd be entertaining him for a while longer and shifted their path to the Pokemon Center. He could at least get his team looked over while his ear was being talked off.
.—.—.
Nurse Joy kept his pokemon overnight to make sure Lt. Surge hadn't fried their nerves.
Apparently the man had done that one too many times. Greed especially had taken quite a few shocks so he was getting some mild muscle relaxers. The pink nurse, to his embarrassment, praised him for withdrawing the panda from the battle rather than let him get shocked into oblivion. Cove was similar but his shell was about to molt anyway and his muscles would naturally soothe themselves. He'd be out of battles and on light training until he was in top shape.
Ash dropped Mikey back off at the school, retired to bed, then retrieved his team in the early morning with a skip in his step. Joy warned him to take it easy on them for the day but they'd be otherwise fine. Regal perched on his shoulder as he collected the last of his things and shoved them unceremoniously into his bag.
"We're heading north to Saffron City. We can get there in a couple days; it's not that far," Ash told the flying-type. "Sabrina is the Gym Leader there. She specializes in psychic-types and her reputation is on par with Surge's in terms of being a nightmare to fight against. She's supposed to be a bit nicer though."
Route 6 would lead them directly to Saffron City. Ash was hesitant to say they were prepared for a battle with the psychic-type specialist. They had a serious advantage with Nut's dark-typing but if type advantage was enough to secure a victory then Lorelei would have dethroned Lance years ago. Still, he was going to challenge her. They wouldn't grow stronger without challenging themselves by taking on opponents of a higher caliber.
If Surge couldn't make him balk, neither would Sabrina.
A tap at the window made the trainer crane his neck to look out the glass. Unown gave a rhythmic buzz from the other side and dropped the pebble it'd used to tap the glass. It was accompanied by a splash of burgundy. Ash hummed as he opened the window; burgundy was a new one. He focused on the feeling as it flickered within him. He smiled as he understood. "Thanks, Unown, your vote of confidence is good to have. I'm surprised you came this far into the city. You want to accompany us on the trip there? You're always welcome."
Unown levitated its way into the room as it flashed a brief violet.
Yes
Ash grinned as he zipped up his bag and slipped the straps over his shoulders. Regal squawked as she flapped her wings to allow his strap to pass under her talons. She landed once more and nipped at his ear. He poked her yellow chest feathers in response.
"Welcome aboard then," he said. "Just one more stop in Vermilion and then Saffron here we come. I know you aren't a fan of people, Unown, but you can join us. Otherwise we can meet you at the beginning of Route 6."
The symbol pokemon hummed before sending a clear message to Ash.
"Alright, we'll meet you there." Ash adjusted his hat before he grabbed the door handle and swung it open.
.—.—.
The city seemed brighter now that Ash carried his Thunder Badge. Regal kept trying to peck at the badge when it caught the sun–it kind of looked like a sun–and he had to keep his eye on her. She had already come back from her previous flight with enough shiny trinkets. He didn't know where she had picked them up and he was sure he would prefer it that way.
Vermilion was bustling with trainers that enjoyed a good battle, and the trainers would be just as willing on Route 6. His entire team was gonna be getting their reps in. Even Graveler would see a couple battles against trainers that he thought could take the boulder pokemon on.
Despite the promise of battles, Graveler wasn't happy with him. The rock-type had wanted to battle Surge and face the electric-types Ash had been waxing on about. The Pallet teen couldn't do much to speak for his defense. He had gone away from the plan. He guaranteed Graveler would be instrumental in the future battles they would find. Blaine, in particular, was going to need more than just Cove's water-typing to fear.
That, unsurprisingly, did little to appease the grump. It was for this reason he had found himself searching the city. Regal chirped again and dove for the Thunder Badge he was admiring. He closed his fist around it. The rookidee squawked, annoyed, and she dug her beak into the soft skin of his cheek in retaliation as her grip on his shoulder tightened and sprouted white lines. He winced as he pushed her from his shoulder.
"That's enough, Regal." His eyes bore into her.
She flapped her wings to keep from falling below his eye-level and watched him. She was surprised at his actions. Ash felt a void snap at his subconscious and his annoyance grew until he almost shouted. He caught himself and breathed deep. Regal was more than a chick now. Pokemon grew fast and most bird pokemon tended to not spend overlylong in their first-stage. He needed to expect her to act out as she grew into her own. Acts that would surely increase in the coming weeks; pre-evolution energy made pokemon antsy.
Ash made a mental note to up her training and get her more battle experience.
Nut chittered an apology from somewhere he was barely aware of and the all consuming Distortion was recalled. Unown flashed a calming lilac to help him settle down and Ash appreciated it. The only time he felt the effects of the Distortion was when his negative emotions flared up. He was getting better at controlling it, at least, and Nut was getting better at reeling it back. Never all the way and never too much as the nuzleaf was never willing to let Unown have more than his share of a claim on Ash's mind.
It was endearing in a migraine inducing way.
Ash returned his attention to the pokemon in front of him. Regal needed to hear this. "You can look all you want and you can inspect it as you like, but this is not yours. We earned this as a team and we share it as a team. We win and lose as a team. What we earn and what we forfeit are all as a team. This badge, as well as the others and the future ones, all belong to you just as much as it belongs to Greed or Nut or Graveler or Cove or me. Do you understand?"
The flying-type flapped her wings once more and returned to his shoulder. She was silent for a minute more before tweeting a soft note. An apology. Her beak tapped the brim of his hat, a request. Ash sighed a bit before he smiled and took off his hat. Regal slowly preened his messy hair. It seemed the raven was content to remain that way for the time being.
"I'm sorry for snapping, girl." Ash said after a moment. Regal tweeted another note. "I know you haven't had much of a chance to prove yourself to the others and your training has been slower than theirs. Was that upsetting you?"
The look in the flying-type's eyes told him he was correct. Ash gently tapped her on the beak. That was a failure on his part, another misstep to add to his growing stack. "I'm sorry, Regal. I was too focused on preparing for Surge that I put your training on the back burner. How about we take some time, just me and you, to rectify that? A couple days on the route just to focus on you."
The rookidee stopped her preening for a few seconds before she bumped his ear with her beak. Ash grinned. "Thanks, Regal. I promise that by the time you evolve you'll be on par with the others." The bird chirped appreciatively. "You know, I never asked why you joined me back in the Safari Zone. You came voluntarily, why is that?"
Regal hopped on his shoulder at the question and puffed out her clean chest feathers. Ash would give her credit that she was always very well groomed. She chirped a few times in explanation. He looked at her, completely lost, before Unown helpfully stepped in. Images of clean feathers, cozy nests, and plentiful pokefood he provided flooded his mind.
Ash blinked. Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised her reasons for joining him were for guaranteed strength, food, and protection. It wasn't a rare sentiment amongst willingly caught pokemon. There was one thing that stood out though. "You didn't like the Safari Zone? Too dirty for your pretty feathers?" Regal nipped his ear lightly at his teasing tone. "Hey, just kidding, girl. I promise I will be sure to help you keep your feathers as clean as possible."
Regal seemed pleased as she once again turned to his hair and began moving and preening the strands. Ash had written off taming his hair as lost cause years ago but he didn't tell the rookidee that. She would probably take it as a challenge.
"Before we leave Vermilion, I'll pick you up something nice." Ash told his pokemon as they finally neared their destination. Regal acknowledged the offer with a low vocalization. "I know there is a market near the Vermilion Harbor where you could try all sorts of fish treats."
The offer appealed to her if the immediate chirp was any indication.
Vermilion's business district was bustling. Shops dotted every corner with signs adorning every window. Ash spotted a PokeMart that stood alone and made sure to remember its location when he needed to stock up before leaving. Gaudy jewelry was displayed in one store window with a sign that promised their ground-types sourced only the finest of gems from caves in Sinnoh. Another store had a large, leather saddle with ornate studs and etched designs displayed on a plastic tauros. Ash wondered if that shop saw much business. Riding pokemon for travel wasn't common in Indigo, though there was interest in the practice of racing. He remembered watching competitions of rapidash racing at a track in southern Kanto on TV when he was younger.
However, he was here for none of those stores. Off to the side of the district lay a quant shop with only a chalkboard to promote it. Ash pivoted on his heels as he aimed for the shop. The wooden floor creaked as he stepped inside. A light ding! sounded his arrival in the store as the door struck a bell strung up by some twine.
The shop was not grand but had a large interior. Rows of displays with thick glass held geodes split in half to show colorful crystal innards. On the table right in front of the door was a wooden bucket with rocks and stones filling it up. A sign near it offered to break open the ones he picked and let him keep them no matter what was inside. Ash found it unlikely anything worthwhile was inside. If they were as cheap as they were advertised, the likelihood of any of them housing a valuable crystal or an ever rare fossil was near zero.
The shopkeep looked up from the old desk at the back of the shop. He was a younger man with a short stubble beard. The hairs were split by a pale scar that ran the length of the man's left cheek to his ear. Despite the scar, the man seemed welcoming. "Ah, welcome in. A trainer, non? Your bird is welcome to stay out but don't let her fly in here."
"She'll stick to my shoulder." He said, more for Regal than the shopkeeper. He took notice of the man's accent. It was definitely foreign but he couldn't place it.
The man dipped his head and gestured towards the rest of the shop. "If there's anything you're in search of, ask now, otherwise browse as you like."
Ash cleared his throat. "I was looking for some minerals for my graveler. His shell is growing just fine but he could use some supplemental material to keep it that way. Some mica would be good, maybe some granite and basalt. Of course the normal iron and magnesium too. I was also wanting to get some more exotic minerals if you have any, they're more of a treat for him more than anything. If you had suggestions that would be great. I heard that–"
The man stopped him short with a wave of his hand and an absolutely confused expression. "Slow down, mon ami, I am catching bits of what you are saying! I only just started here!"
Ash heard a laugh from the other side of the store. The only other occupant, the dark-skinned boy with the vest, walked over with a smile. "I'll help him, Luca. It seems more up my alley." The clerk slumped with relief as he retreated. "Sorry about that. He's a cousin of a friend of mine from Kalos. He said his cousin needed a job in Kanto and I owed him one."
Kalos, that was the accent. It had been bugging him. "No problem, I'm Ash. This is your store?"
"My father's, one of them anyway." He corrected with a flicker of anger as he said it. "I'm Brock. You said you had a graveler?" Ash nodded and tapped Graveler's ultraball on his bandolier. "I'm something of an authority on rock-types in Indigo. If you release him I think I can help you figure out what he needs."
Ash looked around and found the widest unoccupied area of the store and withdrew his pokemon's pokeball. Graveler appeared with a flash and a grunt. The boulder eyed the area with suspicion and leveled a questioning glare at Ash. Regal hopped from his shoulder and landed on Graveler's shell with a chirp. The grump grunted but didn't make a motion to remove her.
Ash felt a bloom of pride in his chest at the image. Graveler had come far from their first interaction in the mining tunnel so long ago. "Hey, Graveler, this is Brock. He's just gonna be checking you over for a second."
Brock stared at the rock-type and hummed. His hand went to his chin and leaned down to get a closer look. The older boy made a move to run his hand down the rock-type's shell. Graveler took a step back and made a noise not unlike crunching gravel at the offense. Brock simply nodded and didn't move to try again. "Sorry, habit. All things considered, he looks in perfect health."
Ash smiled at that. It was always good to hear one of his team members was doing well and even better to hear praise. "Hear that Graveler? You're the perfect specimen. All the female graveler are gonna be rolling your way." Graveler was unimpressed at the joke but Regal gave him an amused call and Brock chuckled, so he didn't totally strike out.
Brock considered the boulder pokemon for a moment more. "He's old. You can tell by the growths on his facial crest and the dark grey color of his shell, that's without mentioning his size. I'd wager somewhere in his later sixties. His sixth crest is just about finished growing and they get one each decade or so. His shell is smoother than I would have thought. Does he know Rock Polish?"
"Recently got that down." Ash answered.
Brock gave a pleased nod. "Good. Most trainers don't realize how useful that move is or, if they do, the pokemon refuses to learn it because it doesn't see it as useful either."
Ash grinned as Graveler turned his head away at the comment. "It also helps shed some of those rugged outcroppings that won't smooth out. As for minerals, you had the right start. The basics are basic for a reason. Magnesium, iron, and the lot. Granite is good too, but only give him basalt in small batches. You can skip mica. It doesn't provide anything beneficial that he won't get elsewhere. Unless you want him to look prettier. Coordinators give it to their pokemon for that reason."
Ash felt like he should be writing this down. Brock wasn't kidding when he said he knew rock-types. "That's all good to know. I'll get a list started."
Brock looked over his shoulder before reaching behind a glass case. He pulled back and clenched a grey stone in his palm. He offered it to Graveler who eyed it suspiciously. "It's diabase, some places call it dolerite. Try it and see how you like it."
Graveler gave Ash a look and the teen nodded. The rock-type grabbed the mineral in his rocky hands and simply popped it into his chasm of a mouth. A grinding sound came from the pokemon and, after a moment, Ash saw the ground-type nod in appreciation.
"I think he approves." Ash told Brock.
"I thought he might. Dolerite is pretty common and it's good for their shell growth. Tough minerals make tough shells. It's cheap too."
Ash reached out and knocked a knuckle against his pokemon's shell to get his attention. "What do you think, Graveler? This is your stop. Call it my apology for not using you against Surge. Whatever you want, let me know and it's yours." The rock-type met his eyes. Unspoken communication passed between them. Graveler finally motioned to Brock and back to the glass cabinets. "Want to try a few more samples?"
Brock was happy to show them more. More minerals and stones and geodes than Ash could ever hope to name were presented before Graveler. The boulder tried a dozen different substances and gave varying responses. He liked some, like limestone, and disliked others, like the small piece of obsidian. Then came the hunk of concrete that would change Graveler's appetite forever.
Brock produced a hunk of white concrete from a wheelbarrow in the back of the store. It gleamed under the store lights and Ash couldn't imagine what it would look like under direct sunlight. Graveler accepted the large chunk and started his sampling. After a few loud crunches that made Ash's teeth ache at the sound, Graveler's eyes went wide. The Pallet teen almost fell over when the boulder pokemon made an attempt to swallow the concrete slab whole and then, when it was crushed and gone, made a sound that Ash thought had come from a begging growlithe. Even Regal seemed taken aback.
Brock laughed and turned to Ash's gobsmacked face. "Yeah, rock-types and ground-types love this stuff. This concrete is the kind they use in Olivine to protect against the sea. They add an absurd amount of chemicals and blend it with a thousand different minerals to make it able to stand up to the sea salt, water-types, inclement weather, and what have you. Surprisingly not that bad for them, but they can go overboard pretty quick so you gotta control it. It's kind of like a kid and a sugar rush."
Ash believed it as he watched Brock move to block Graveler off from grabbing at the wheelbarrow containing the concrete. The older boy did what was best and wheeled the barrow into the back even as Graveler grumbled in annoyance at being cut off. He was acting like Greed when Ash stopped him from eating an entire dish of berries in one sitting.
Ash shook his head. He'd made a monster and added another glutton to his roster.
Well, he had said he'd get the pokemon whatever he wanted. "We can get some to go, Graveler, but we'll temper it with minerals that are more beneficial for you. That sound fair?"
Graveler met his eyes and nodded as he watched Brock return from the back. Ash was sure he would have agreed to anything to get another taste of the, apparently addictive, concrete. Ash added the last item onto his list and showed it to Brock when he returned. The rock-type expert smiled and clapped his hands. "Well, I hope you have a truck to haul that around."
Ash tapped Graveler with his knuckle again. "Sure do."
After half an hour, the last of his order was put together and Ash was regretting giving Graveler a blank check. His backpack weighed an additional twenty pounds with the additional minerals in it and the rock/ground-type was hefting a green rucksack full of pieces of his favored concrete with a satisfied expression. At least Greed would be happy to carry his backpack for him. The fighting-type never noticed any extra weight in his pack considering his immense strength. Regal–who was resting in her pokeball, too impatient to wait for their order to get packed up–could carry the bag in her talons after she evolved. It would be a great way to trainer her strength.
Brock hopped down from the loading dock behind the store and patted the rucksack when he was sure it was secure and not going to come apart at the seams. "Everything is all packed up. Thanks for making the biggest order in the past month."
Watching the numbers dwindle from his account has been a gut punch. Ash knew he still had plenty left but he'd need to challenge a fair amount of trainers if he wanted to make up for the lost cash.
"Yeah, happy to give away my life's work." Ash quipped. "Hey, Brock, I never asked. How do you know so much about rock-types?"
"I'm from Pewter City. Half of our history is rock-types." Brock shot him a grin. "Plus I'm a specialist. My starter was an onix, a geodude was my first capture, you get the idea. I'm no professor but I know my stuff when it comes to rock-types."
"Wait." Ash frowned before he snapped his fingers. "You're Brock Pebbleman! I knew you looked familiar."
"Guilty."
"Your dad is Gym Leader Flint. He owns this place then?"
"He owns a few stores across Kanto." Brock snorted. "I wouldn't use that as a selling point for this place. He has a habit of walking out on things."
Ash didn't think he was supposed to hear that last bit and didn't comment on it. If Brock had issues with his father, well, he wouldn't get any judgment from him. They were alike in that regard it seemed. "Thanks for the help with Graveler. You have a golem, right?"
The subject change was not subtle, Ash knew, but Brock didn't mention it. Instead, the older boy reached a hand into his pocket and withdrew a scratched and dented pokeball. A click and the device opened and a round pokemon took shape.
Golem rumbled as it appeared. The megaton pokemon was dusty brown with two stocky arms and legs. Its elongated reptilian-like face was pronounced by its two red eyes that met Ash's. Its shell was a mix of green-grey hues that reminded him of a mossy stone. Brock stepped forward and rubbed a hand on the pokemon's flat head. The sound was like sandpaper and Ash wondered how it didn't scrape open the older boy's hand. "This is Golem, one of my oldest partners."
Graveler perked up at the name and carefully set down the rucksack. Golem rumbled a greeting to Ash and then caught sight of Graveler. The two rock-types locked eyes, red on black, and both pokemon made a sound not unlike a tunnel collapse. In a flash, both evolutions of geodude tucked their arms inwards. Brock immediately backed up and Ash followed.
The two rolled forward at the other in the open area behind the store, leaving divots in the ground. They met in the middle, near the loading dock, and the shells clashed. For a moment, Ash watched as the two curled up pokemon collided and came to a standstill. Neither one let the other forward. He thought it might continue like this, two unstoppable forces meeting the other, but that was shattered when Graveler was thrown backwards. His weight was dislodged from the rut he had carved into the earth as he sprawled in a puff of dirt.
Golem rolled its near half a ton weight to a stop and withdrew from his shell as Graveler picked himself up. Ash's inched his hand to the ultraball on his bandolier in case his pokemon decided to do something he'd need to return him for. Instead, the boulder pokemon grunted a greeting and swatted a rocky fist at Golem's shell. Golem responded with a similar greeting as Graveler's fist thunked the hard shell, then it did a similar motion as it raked its three claws down the outcroppings of its pre-evolution.
Ash heard Brock chuckle and then thump a hand on his shoulder. "First time seeing rock-types get acquainted?"
Ash nodded dumbly. "That's normal?"
"Like how fighting-types spar to get acquainted, rock-types test each other's defenses. Some of them anyway."
"He's pretty comfortable with Golem off the bat," Ash remarked as he watched the two pokemon interact. If only the grump had been this agreeable when he'd first captured him. "He's usually more solitary."
"Golem and Graveler are of the same evolutionary line, there's a mutual understanding and respect there." Brock adjusted his vest and wiped away the dust that had settled on it. "You'll find that many species are like that, or at least very comfortable with pokemon of the same line. Young pokemon especially."
Ash watched as the pokemon grunted and clashed and conversed. Graveler seemed more comfortable than he had ever seen him. He wondered if the others would act the same if they met any of their evolutions.
"So, you said you beat Surge? And without using a ground-type? Well done." Brock congratulated him. "Headed to Celadon for Erika's badge then?"
Ash shook his head. "Saffron for Sabrina's. I have Erika's badge already."
Brock turned pensive. "Lightning and Rainbow, any others?"
"Soul."
Brock grinned. "You haven't gone to Pewter yet?"
"I wanted to switch it up a bit. Thought I could give you and the Waterflowers' a challenge at least." Ash was clapped on the shoulder again.
"When you get to Pewter, find me. My team would love the exercise." Brock's grin was ear to ear. The older boy pulled out a business card. "Here's my info."
Ash smiled back. "You got it."
Brock tapped a rhythm on the earth with his foot. Golem picked up on it and nodded at his trainer. "You've got ambition, keep that. If you're going after Surge and Sabrina then you're definitely pushing yourself. It'll be interesting to see what you can do in the Conference."
Golem pulled away from his interaction with Graveler. The rock-types clashed their fists one last time before separating. Brock measured up Graveler one last time before venturing back to the store. He waved one last time–a gesture Ash reciprocated–before ducking into the back entrance of the shop.
Ash hefted his pack onto his shoulders as Graveler picked his rucksack back up. "I say we should get moving towards Route 6. Sooner we leave, the sooner we can battle Sabrina. Plus, Unown is waiting for us."
Graveler blinked at the rucksack in his hands, then at Ash. Finally it seemed to click in the pokemon's mind that he would have to carry the rucksack himself without anyone to pass it off to. That meant he had to walk Route 6 at Ash's side without being recalled.
Ash grinned as his pokemon groaned. "Don't complain. You wanted the stuff, not me. If you want it then you can carry it." Graveler grunted in acknowledgment. "You know, this stuff is way better than whatever you would have eaten in the mining tunnel. How many chunks of that concrete would you have found down there?"
The pokemon was silent as Ash felt himself go serious. He turned to the boulder. "Graveler, buddy, our deal still stands. I gave you my word and I intend to keep it. When we clear the last Gym, you have an out. We'll go back to that tunnel and you can go, no hard feelings. Just know that you always have a place on this team. We've come a long way and we aren't even halfway through the circuit yet. Imagine what we can do by the time the Indigo Conference rolls around."
Graveler didn't respond. Ash didn't need him to, the silent consideration was enough. The teen simply knocked a knuckle on the pokemon's shell with a smile as they made their way to the edge of the city.
The road waited for no one.
.—.—.
What? A chapter within four months? Insane, I know. Surge, the battle, Vermilion, and some team bonding. All good stuff. I think I like the Gym battle in the end, minus a couple nitpicks I couldn't get around. Battles aren't my strongest point but I get by. I can't help but notice the trend of Surge being a mentor-like character for Ash in other journey stories and I want to try and avoid that here but I don't think I have it in me to make Surge irrelevant lol.
I went back and edited the first couple chapters, just tweaked a couple things, fixed some grammar and structure issues, and expanded worldbuilding in some places. I will probably do the same for the third and fourth as well when I get time. I should have a good amount of time for the next month so here's hoping I can write at a better pace, knock on wood, and maybe get another chapter out soon-ish, better than 4 months at least. I already have decent progress on the next one but I can tell that Saffron is gonna give me fits.
Next Chapter: Arcane
As always, thanks for reading and reviews are always appreciated.
BJJPanda: Glad you enjoyed it. Best of luck to you, my man.
HDK: Last chapter was mostly a cool down chapter that built up this one. Graveler's Magnitude variation will definitely be something once he gets it under control. Surge being Surge is always fun to write, so hope you liked Ash tackling him.
Fuck Names: Hey, thanks. Glad you enjoyed it overall. Candidly, Nut's name was absolutely lazy haha. I agree with you that Team Rocket is done to death in fics but I am gonna try and make them a little bit different in my version and sidestep some common tropes as best I can. Glad you like Regal and hopefully Cove will grow on you as the story does. I did pass over something like a kingdra or gyarados because they are just so common in stories.
Dman: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. The 'storm that is Surge' is a great way to put it lol. Admittedly, I am still undecided how I want to handle Wormholes and Ultra Beasts.
DanishReader: Thank you, I appreciate the love. Can't confirm or deny but I will say that I think Hydreigon is a really cool pokemon.
Speed Reader: Thank you! Ash's training prep and such will probably be picking up more now that he's going for his fourth badge. Glad you liked Harrison. I don't see him used as much as someone like Paul.