Chapter 11: Pewter City and Brock
Walking out of the dense forest, a winding path appeared ahead, leading toward the city.
A road sign stood beside the trail. On it were written the words:
[500m ahead — Pewter City.
Hahaha… I'm ahead, loser Ash~]
"…Huh?" Ash stared blankly.
Did… did that sign just insult him?
And that handwriting looked painfully familiar…
"Gary… can you be any more childish?" Ash rolled his eyes so hard it almost hurt, gritting his teeth.
"Pika pika~" Pikachu clutched its belly and laughed mercilessly.
"Ugh—Gary, you just wait!" Ash felt completely defeated by that troll.
Seriously, didn't Gary have better things to do?
Like… catching some Pokémon?
Or at least teasing a couple of pretty girls instead?
How bored did someone have to be to vandalize a signpost just to trash-talk him?
"A-s-hh~ You're too slow!"
Rustling came from the bushes as Gary popped out with a smug grin.
"Dude… are you playing the role of Voldemort?" Ash was genuinely shocked.
"Tch. I called Gramps, figured out roughly that you'd arrive today, and came here to wait for you.
Aren't you touched?" Gary wiggled his eyebrows with exaggerated flair.
"Cut it out… what do you want?" Ash stared at him, expression flat.
Gary's personality was… conspicuous, to say the least.
"Hehe, you guessed it~"
Gary whipped out his badge case and opened it casually.
"Oh~ what is this dazzling light? Ah yes—my Boulder Badge shining brilliantly."
Watching his theatrical expression, Ash couldn't help but mentally picture a husky begging for praise.
"Ugh… fine, fine, it's shiny, I see it. You may leave now." Ash waved a dismissive hand.
"What's with that attitude!" Gary scoffed and closed the case. "You think I came here just to show off?"
"…Didn't you?" Ash looked at him with obvious suspicion.
"Well~ actually, yes." Gary changed tones instantly.
Ash nearly face-palmed.
"Come here, come here—let me send you flying back to Pallet Town with one punch…"
"But~" Gary held up a finger. "That's only part of it. I'm really here because ever since we became trainers, we haven't battled yet."
"Oh?" Ash smirked. "So you waited here specifically to lose to me?"
"Where is that confidence coming from?!" Gary burst out laughing in anger. "Enough talk! If you've got guts, bring out your Pokémon! I'm gonna show you the gap between us!"
"No problem. I'll make sure you cry your way back to Professor Oak." Ash shot back without hesitation.
"Go! My sweetie, Nidoran!"
Gary threw his Poké Ball, and a small purple, horned creature appeared before Ash.
Nidoran — a Pokémon that could learn many moves and had excellent physical stats.
The only drawback was its expensive training cost.
Just evolving into Nidoking required a Moon Stone — which wasn't exactly cheap.
Still, with enough resources poured in, Nidoking's growth was absolutely top-tier.
"Typical choice for you," Ash muttered. "Pikachu, I'm counting on you!"
"Pika pika~" Pikachu nodded obediently, leaping off Ash's shoulder and landing before Nidoran, sparks forming on its cheeks.
"Ni-ni!"
Nidoran lowered its head, horn pointed straight at Pikachu.
"Pikaa~"
Pikachu crouched down, muscles tightening, ready to spring into action.
"Ash! Let's settle this!" Gary shouted confidently.
"Come and try~" Ash crooked a finger at him.
Ahem—
Just as the battle was about to ignite, a motorcycle rolled between them.
"This is an entrance route into the city. Fighting is prohibited here."
A police officer with green hair tied neatly behind her head stepped forward from her bike, standing firmly between the boys.
Ash and Gary instantly straightened up and pointed at each other.
"He started it!"
Both boys blinked at each other in disbelief and shouted in perfect unison:
"Officer Jenny, arrest him!"
"You two shouldn't trouble Officer Jenny," a mature, calm voice said.
"If you want to battle, go to the park or the Pokémon Center inside the city."
A tall young man in an orange sweater, with familiar narrowed eyes, stepped forward.
"Brock!" Gary exclaimed.
"So this is… Brock…" Ash looked up, pausing mid-sentence.
Mm. He looked more mature, taller too, with a grounded and steady aura that made others instinctively respect him.
As expected of Brock — already a reliable, admirable man…
Before Ash could even greet him—
WHOOSH!
A black blur swept past.
"Officer Jenny!!"
Brock dashed after her with a shameless grin. "Do you have time tonight? Maybe we could grab coffee together~?"
"Sorry, Brock, I'm on duty," Officer Jenny said coldly, flicking her wrist as she sped off, leaving Brock choking on exhaust fumes.
"Cough—Officer Jenny!"
Even with his eyes still shaped like lines, Brock's flaring nostrils were unmissable.
"Wow… that's embarrassing. I never expected the calm, cool Brock to have that side of him…" Gary whispered to Ash, gossip mode fully activated.
"Mmh~ actually, that feels just right," Ash said, rubbing his chin with a mysterious smile.
"Aha… first time meeting. I'm Brock. About what you just saw—I can explain…"
Brock scratched his head awkwardly.
"No worries, I get it," Ash said. Then, getting straight to the point:
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town. I'd like to challenge the Pewter Gym."
"Oh, that?" Brock immediately regained his serious demeanor.
"The Gym has its rules. If you're prepared, come anytime."
Ash nodded with a smile. "Alright, I look forward to our match."
Brock smiled back. "I look forward to it as well."
"Ugh, my mood's ruined by Officer Jenny… I'm going back to sleep."
Gary stretched and started walking toward the city.
"Ash, tomorrow morning, meet me at the open field in the city park!"
"Yeah, yeah," Ash muttered. Gary clearly wouldn't rest until they battled.
Which was great—rivals like him always gave good experience points.
"It's getting late. I have to go home and cook. You should head into the city too—it's not safe wandering around at night." Brock looked at the sky and offered a kind reminder before turning to leave.
Ash lifted his head and, on instinct, called out:
"Um… could I come to your house for dinner?"
Brock paused and turned back, meeting Ash's earnest gaze.
Those eyes—what were they filled with?
Nostalgia, warmth, blessing, longing, trust, sincerity, and quiet admiration…
A complex blend of emotions washed over Brock all at once.
"My family is pretty big… but if you don't mind, then sure, come along." Brock said with a smile.
"Thank you, Brock!"
Ash grinned brightly and jogged a few steps to catch up beside him.
Under the setting sun, their shadows stretched long across the road…
To be continued…