Pewter City.
Pewter Gym.
This is a colossal building, second to none in the entire city.
Unlike the anime, this Pewter Gym isn't poor at all. As the significant martial force protecting the entire city, its status is equivalent to a military district stationed within the city limits.
Even without mentioning financial allocations, just doing a little business on the side brings in pots of money. Their social identity and status are exceptionally high.
Deep within Pewter Gym, constructed of piled gray-white rocks, the training ground's lights illuminated only a small central area. The air was filled with the smell of ore dust and stale sweat.
Brock leaned against the cold rock wall with his arms crossed, his rock-like face appearing even more angular in the shadows. His Onix was coiled at his side, its rough rocky body gleaming with a matte finish in the dim light.
"Father, Mother."
Brock's voice was low and steady, sending faint echoes through the empty grounds.
In the shadows, the figures of Flint and Lola walked out. Father, Flint, had a tall body bearing the steadiness honed by the years. Mother, Lola, was like a piece of warm, smooth jade; her eyes were gentle but revealed resilience.
...Er... if Brock hadn't suddenly received a communication from Professor Oak, Lola wouldn't have come back. Recently, the couple had been having conflicts.
"I have finished relaying Professor Oak's message." Brock's gaze swept over his parents. "He hopes we will 'seriously test' that newcomer from Pallet Town named Ash Ketchum, and if suitable, do our best to nurture and protect him."
The Gym Leader of Pewter Gym was originally Brock's father, Flint. But Flint often irresponsibly went out to capture various Pokémon... so the position of Gym Leader was handed over to Brock.
Thanks to this, even though Brock is only 15, he has gained the respect and admiration of the city's people. As the Gym Leader, Brock is an extremely serious powerhouse with a will as solid as bedrock.
In other words, as a Gym Leader, he carries a certain burden of being an idol. So... if he were to step down... it's hard to say.
After all.
Compared to being a Gym Leader, Brock wants to be a Breeder even more. And he also wants to go out and have some fun.
Perhaps this would be a very good excuse to run away. Emm... no matter how mature everyone says he is, Brock is actually only 15. Isn't it normal to want to go out and play?
"Nurture and protect?" Flint's rugged brows furrowed. "A junior valued by Professor Oak naturally has extraordinary potential."
"But protect?"
"How far can a rookie go if they need the personal protection of a Gym Leader?"
"The Professor's words are a bit interesting."
Flint was contemplating the current situation. Honestly, the biggest problems for the Kanto League right now are Team Rocket and the Elite Four.
Leaving the Elite Four aside for the moment. Team Rocket is too deeply entrenched and difficult to handle.
The only ones who can openly constrain Team Rocket are the academic circles led by Professor Oak.
As for the Kanto League? Better left unsaid!
Flint looked at Brock: "What do you think?"
Brock was silent for a moment. "The Professor's request carries heavy weight."
"But the Gym Badge represents the will of rock; it is a solid recognition, not a favor for anyone's sake."
He paused, then added, "Besides, protect?"
"If that child is truly as special as the Professor says, what he needs is probably not shelter in a greenhouse, but a whetstone to sharpen his edge."
Brock felt that Professor Oak's words must have deep meaning. It must be known that Professor Oak is not just a professor; he was once a powerhouse capable of reaching the League Champion rank... and is an old friend of Agatha of the Elite Four.
Mother Lola sighed softly. "The Professor's considerations may be deeper than we can see."
"Perhaps that child carries a burden we don't know about. But Brock is right; the Badge represents the recognition of Pewter Gym, and this recognition must be exchanged for strength."
She looked at Brock.
"The key lies in the word 'suitable'."
"The Professor didn't say 'must'; he gave us room to judge."
"Brock, use your eyes, use the intuition of a Rock-type Trainer to weigh him."
"If he truly has that capacity and is worth your effort to 'nurture', then follow the Professor's wishes."
"If he has potential but lacks the matching spirit..." Lola didn't continue, but the unsaid meaning was incredibly clear.
Even a genius is only a genius if they can realize that potential. A genius who hasn't developed is nothing but a weakling.
"I understand." Brock nodded, his eyes sharp as knives. "I will give him a test worthy of 'Professor Oak's expectations'."
"Using the Pewter Gym way."
Brock indicated he was getting serious. Of course, this didn't mean he was going all out.
He would bring out Pokémon of a similar level to fight fairly, in accordance with the standards of the League regulations. After all, no matter what, this was just a Gym challenge match.
He couldn't possibly go all out and bring out his main Pokémon to beat a newbie who had just left home, could he? He wasn't that sadistic.
"Good!" Flint said in a deep voice. "Let that brat see what true stone will is!!"
Over the next few days, the atmosphere in Pewter Gym was as heavy as a mountain.
Brock personally adjusted the field. The Pokémon prepared for use—Onix, Graveler, Kabuto—all had their training intensity significantly increased.
Especially that Graveler; its Rollout tactics training brought a dull roar, as if even the ground was trembling.
Brock even rarely didn't go to the Pokémon Center to help; he just stayed in the Gym, or looked down from a high place at the main road leading to the Gym, like a silent rock, waiting for the target to appear.
However, one day passed, then two... the figure of the Pallet Town newcomer was nowhere to be seen.
Even the other Gym staff in Pewter Gym were wondering what Brock was up to. Well, they didn't know what was happening.
Brock certainly wouldn't speak about Professor Oak contacting him to outsiders. The only ones who got the news from Brock were his father Flint and mother Lola. Even Brock's other younger brothers and sisters didn't know what was going on.
This evening.
Watching his son walk silently back to the training ground from the Gym entrance once again, Flint couldn't help but speak up: "Tsk, that kid didn't get lost in Viridian Forest, did he?"
Theoretically speaking, this isn't impossible. Pallet Town is very close to Viridian City, and Viridian City is right below the League Headquarters at Indigo Plateau.
But Viridian City is quite far from Pewter Gym. One has to pass through a stretch of Viridian Forest in between.
Moreover, the paths in Viridian Forest are intricate and complex; there are even rookie Trainers who die in there every year.
But no matter what, this is someone Professor Oak values; he wouldn't drop dead on the road, right?
"..." Brock did not answer, merely picking up a rock to feel its rough, cold texture, his eyes remaining calm.
In the corner of the training ground, a Kabuto restlessly clawed at the hard rock of the floor, making a faint scratching sound.
Lola gently patted Flint's arm, signaling him to be patient.
She looked at Brock: "Brock, patience is a virtue of the rock."
Just as this heavy waiting was almost turning into tangible pressure, the communicator in Brock's pocket suddenly emitted a rapid and slight vibration. A special frequency.
Brock paused, pulling it out almost instantly. On the screen was a short encrypted message from Nurse Joy of the Pewter City Pokémon Center:
_____
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