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Austin stood in the middle of the arena, his mind a blank canvas, devoid of thought. The sound of the Pokéball returning Onix echoed sharply, the flash of red light momentarily blinding him. Before he could process the victory, Rattata and Pikachu, overcome with excitement, tackled him in a joyful heap. The reality that they had won—no, that they had won together—sank in.
With a wide smile, Austin wrapped his arms around the two Pokémon, pulling them into a tight embrace. The warmth of their bodies and the rapid beating of their hearts against his chest filled him with a profound sense of achievement.
After a moment, Austin collected himself, standing up to face Brock and Forrest, who were both watching him with amused grins. "Sorry about that."
"There is nothing for you to apologize for, you deserve this celebration," Brock responded warmly, as Forrest pulled out a box and opened it to reveal the Boulder Badge. The badge was a greyish silver, resembling a stylized rock with rugged, uneven shapes and angular edges.
"I thought my ID was going to be encrypted," Austin remarked, looking curiously at the badge.
"Oh, you don't know."
"Know what?"
"The encryption is just your proof for your win, the league will deposit your winning sum into your bank account."
Austin nodded, absorbing the information, his gaze lingering on the badge.
"The Boulder Badge, however, is an artificial usable item that can increase your Pokémon's physical attacks."
Brock said enjoying Austin's shocked look.
'Okay, so badges work like they did in the Pokémon Adventures manga as stat boosters,' Austin thought, a new realization dawning on him.
Did Ash know about this?
Why wasn't it ever said in the anime?
If this world isn't the anime then what is it?
Brock's cough pulled Austin back from his thoughts.
"Sorry, I was just wondering how that was possible."
"Do you know the reason why Pokémon are so strong?" Brock asked, leaning in a bit as if sharing a secret.
"PP?"
Forrest chuckled softly, while Brock let out a short snort.
"Good guess, but Pokémon Power is just the unit term used in relation to their moves. In actuality, the energy that makes a Pokémon able to be so strong is called Aura," Brock explained.
Austin nodded, absorbing the information as he wondered if the Kingdom of Rota was a thing in this world or not, something to look into.
"You don't need a giant lecture from me about the topic."
No, I think I do.
Austin wanted to say, but he held back, listening intently as Brock continued.
"Aura is an energy present in all forms of life, but it's especially potent in Pokémon. This is why they can perform moves and have special abilities," Brock explained.
"That's really interesting, but what does that have to do with items?"
"Items are essentially by-products of a Pokémon's body, much like how you can clip your nails or cut your hair."
"So, the Quick Claw that I have is like a claw from a Pokémon, and the lingering aura in it is what causes the speed boost phenomenon," Austin surmised, grasping the concept.
"Exactly, you caught on really quickly," Brock praised.
"Thanks, but why did you call the Boulder Badge an artificial item?"
"That's because it was crafted in a lab from shattered pieces of an Onix."
"And what's the difference between natural and artificial items?"
"Well, apart from how they're made, natural items tend to last longer while artificial items usually provide a one-time boost," Brock said, simplifying the explanation.
"What does the Boulder Badge do?"
"The Boulder Badge acts like a battery storing the physical aura of an Onix. Any Pokémon that absorbs this aura can permanently enhance its physical attack power," Brock described.
"How many times can one use it on a Pokémon?"
"It's designed for single use, but there have been instances where trainers have reused their badges, selling them off for a quick profit. You could technically use it multiple times, but be careful—there are side effects. For example, if you used multiple Boulder Badges on a Spearow, its physical attacks would increase, but it might lose the ability to fly due to increased muscle mass. Different Pokémon will react differently," Brock warned.
"Is it illegal?"
"Selling your Boulder Badge is legal; it's your property," Brock responded, then paused as Austin's question hung in the air. "But using multiple badges on a Pokémon can be legally gray. It's not outright illegal, but if it's seen as harmful, it could be considered Pokémon abuse. Each case would be evaluated to determine if the trainer's actions cross that line."
Austin nodded.
"Well then Forrest here will handle the rest while I take my Onix to the Pokémon Center," Brock said and quickly exited, a bit too hastily for a simple trip to the Pokémon Center.
"Nurse Joy," Forrest and Austin said simultaneously, turning to look at each other.
"How did you know that?"
"Rumors," Austin replied causing Forrest to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"He seriously needs to stop trying to bring a female presence into the home."
"What do you mean?"
"Brock is the primary guardian of the house, and he thinks that we need a female presence in our lives, especially for the younger siblings who didn't get to meet Mom. So, he tries to woo any female he meets. We know his intentions are sweet, but to everyone else, he just ends up looking like a creep."
Austin pursed his lips as he digested the sad reason behind Brock's Simp Gag.
"I'm sure he'll find someone."
"He'll get a restraining order before he ever gets a girlfriend," Forrest snorted, only half-joking.
Suddenly, both heads snapped towards the outside as they heard a shout from Brock and the sound of someone hitting the floor.
Austin and Forrest ran out and arrived at a shocking scene: Brock was on top of another man who resembled an older, more muscular version of himself.
It was Flint who was getting himself as Brock pummeled him.
Flint's nose was broken and bleeding, his lips were cut, and a dark bruise was forming on his face from Brock's punches.
Sally stood to the side, shaking uncontrollably.
Forrest immediately ran to comfort his sister, his own face pale with shock.
Austin intervened, grabbing Brock to pull him away from the beaten man.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked and Rattata flared her teeth, ears, and tail, standing firmly between Brock and Flint.
"Brock, stop it! He's your dad!" Austin shouted, struggling to hold back the furious gym leader. Brock's muscles bulged under Austin's grip, his anger making him almost too much to handle.
"He isn't my father!" Brock roared back, his voice thunderous, causing Austin to flinch. He had never seen Brock this angry.
Austin could barely hold the teen back; he skidded forward as Brock thrashed. Just as it seemed Brock might break free, a small, timid voice called out, "Big brother."
Brock froze, his body tensing as he turned to the source of the voice.
A crowd of siblings stood there, the younger ones scared and in tears, the older ones just staring in disbelief at the scene. "Is that dad?"
"No! This is just some... Nobody," Brock spat out the words with venom.
"Everyone go back to the playground," he commanded, his voice harsh. The siblings hesitated, their eyes wide and fearful. "Now!" Brock yelled, his shout causing the children to start crying.
"You," Brock pointed at Austin, his gaze steely and cold. "Drag that man out of my sight before I do something I'll regret."
Austin gulped, nodding silently as he approached Flint, who was now quietly looking at the ground, defeated and broken. "Flint, let's go," Austin said softly, helping the older man to his feet.
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Austin handed a cold soda to Flint, who sat heavily on the sidewalk, looking worn and bruised. They sat in silence for a moment before Austin popped open his own can and Pikachu's, drinking deeply while Flint pressed the cold can against his bruised face.
"What happened?"
"I-I got what I deserved," Flint managed to say, his voice low and filled with self-reproach.
"Getting beat up by your son?" Austin asked, taking another sip of his soda.
"For my crimes, this won't cover it," Flint replied, shifting the can to his black eye, the chill of the soda providing a small relief from the pain.
"Flint, if you don't mind me asking, how did this mess start?"
Flint paused, gathering his thoughts. "I guess it started 6 years ago; I had everything I could have ever wanted—a loving family, my children respected me, my city respected me. I was expecting my 10th child, and I was the star of Pewter City," he began, his voice a mix of nostalgia and sorrow. Austin listened intently, taking sips of his soda as the story unfolded.
"Around that time, Pewter City's old gym leader died, and the position was open. When I gave Brock his starter, I told him that I would become Pewter's gym leader, and everyone supported my decision. I just had to prove to the league that I was eligible," Flint continued, his voice growing fainter.
"How do you become a gym leader?"
"A trainer has to have a minimum of 1000 Pokémon battle wins and then they apply to the league, where you'll fight an Elite 4 member alongside a challenge from the league," Flint explained, his eyes distant as he recalled his past.
Austin nodded.
"My challenge was to defeat the ace of an Elite 4, and I knew that I didn't have the capabilities to do so. I started my Pokémon journey to get stronger as I traveled from Kanto to Johto, training. And with that, fame began to form around me, and that fame got to my head. It felt more important than anything, and sadly, I neglected my family because of it," Flint confessed.
Before his crucial match against the Elite 4, Flint received a call that his wife, Lola, was going into labor. But as he sat in the locker room, he was intoxicated by the cheers of the crowd chanting his name. "I thought I could finish the match before going to my wife's side," Flint confessed, his voice cracking with guilt.
"Why?"
"Every time Lola went into labor, the process was extended and difficult," Flint explained. "I won the match just as the ace Pokémon fell, and I hurried back to Pewter with the good news. However, when I arrived, I learned that both my wife and my newborn had passed away due to excessive blood loss and eclampsia."
Tears streamed down Flint's cheeks as he choked on his words.
"I realized that my wife was alone, in pain... And my...youngest daughter..."
Austin sat quietly, a heavy silence enveloping them as Flint wept.
"I am a horrible father... a horrible husband... a horrible man."
Regret consumed Flint.
As Flint was celebrated as the new Pewter Gym Leader, his victory felt completely empty. The cheers and applause that should have made him happy instead felt meaningless. He was overwhelmed by fear and sadness, leading to many sleepless nights filled with painful visions of what he had missed. Each cheer from the crowd reminded him of the times his family needed him most, making him feel even more guilty.
"Brock had just completed his first Pokémon journey and was doing his best to help me navigate through my grief," Flint recounted, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with emotion.
"In a moment of vulnerability, I confessed everything to my son. The instant I saw the horror and disgust on his face, I regretted my honesty. The look in his eyes was more than I could bear."
Flint paused, gathering the strength to continue.
"That night, I ran. I ran from the disappointment in his eyes, from the unbearable weight of my guilt. I thought distance might dull the pain, might offer some semblance of forgiveness from myself. But it never did."
Flint's voice broke as he talked about what happened next.
"By the time I got back, Brock had already become the gym leader," he said, his voice thick with regret.
"He once told me that he really wanted to be a Pokémon breeder, but he gave that up to take over for me. I took that dream away from him because I wasn't strong enough to handle my own responsibilities."
Overcome by a wave of despair, Flint clutched his hair in his hands, tugging at the strands as if trying to physically pull away the unbearable pain suffusing his heart. His body trembled violently with sobs.
"I failed to be there for my wife in her moment of greatest need. I failed to be there for my son," he choked out.
"I—I—I don't deserve to live."
Austin, feeling overwhelmed and out of his depth, listened in silence, unsure how to comfort the older man.
"What made you come back?" Austin finally asked.
"You," Flint replied.
"Me?"
"Your words pushed me to realize that hiding like a coward won't help anyone. I need to step back into my role as a father, to take responsibility, and to move on from my grief."
"What do I need to do to help?"
"Nothing, this isn't your problem to deal with."
"But I can convince Brock to give you a chance." Austin said in the moment.
"Thank you, but I need to earn my way back into my family," Flint said firmly.
"How are you going to do that?"
"Every day, I'll go back to Pewter. I'll beg if I need to for one chance. I'll take multiple jobs, make money to help my family, and maybe one day... I'll earn the right to ask for their forgiveness," Flint resolved, his voice steadier.
Austin wanted to help, but he knew this family drama wasn't going to be resolved by simple anime clichés.
"I think this belongs to you," Flint said as he placed the TM for Hidden Power in front of Austin.
"Why?"
"Just think of it as my thank you," Flint replied.
"You don't have to do this," Austin said, feeling a sense of unease accepting such a gift under these circumstances.
"I don't, but I want to," Flint insisted, meeting Austin's gaze firmly. "Do this old man a favor? Take it and use it so that even if I fail, at least I did something right."
Austin looked at the cube, feeling a mix of gratitude and sadness that he couldn't do more to help the man.
Austin looked up at Flint, his gaze hesitant and searching.
He wanted to offer comfort or advice, something that might ease the heavy burden the older man carried, but he struggled to find the right words.
How could he, still a teenager in so many ways, provide solace in a situation so fraught with adult complexities and deep-seated pain?
'Why couldn't this be just like the anime,' Austin thought, where problems like these are resolved neatly and quickly?
Despite his inner turmoil, Austin managed a smile, an attempt to project a sense of confidence he didn't fully feel.
"I am sure that you'll succeed, Flint."
It was a simple expression of support, perhaps naive, but it was sincere.
Flint looked down at him, a complex mix of emotions playing across his face.
Austin's words, simple yet filled with earnestness, seemed to offer a small comfort, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there could be a glimmer of hope, a chance for change.
The boy might not have had the wisdom of years, but his support, untainted by cynicism, carried its own kind of power.