A day after Forrest, Ash, and Misty had left, the reporters descended on the Gym.
"Gym Leader Brock, it's been suggested that you have disrupted a police investigation, how do you respond to this?" "Was your brother a Team Rocket Member in disguise?" "How long can you remain as Gym Leader with ethics like this?" "Where is the Gym going in the future?"I stared them all down. I'd known this was necessary and when Rachel had tentatively approached me about the need to have a press release I'd had to bend my neck into a nod.This was just part of the shitty situation that I would have to work through. This was about protecting Forrest. Lawrence had come out after I'd accepted the need to say something. His advice? Say as little as possible and give nothing of our intentions away.I flexed my aura in a manner that had a cold feeling sweep through the crowd of reporters and silence them. I nodded as if they'd played nice and fallen quiet for me to talk. "First of all, good morning and thank you for coming out today. Over the previous few days a situation in my family has emerged that is difficult to parse. The sequence of events have been muddied and now a number of allegations, which I can assure you are fanciful to the extreme have emerged. The focus of these rumours, my younger sibling is still a minor under Indigo law and this adds further difficulty to the events. It has however highlighted a need for them to spend time away from the Gym to clear his head.""I have done this to shield them from the harassment that sometimes occurs when overzealous reporters or individuals decide to go over the accepted line of a person's privacy. My family has had many invasions of our privacy in the past." I gave a pointed look to each and everyone of the reporters as though they'd been the ones to try talking with some of my youngest siblings."I cannot fault them for what occurred as they were innocent. Due to police mishandling of the situation and the subsequent events, they felt it best to remove themselves from a potentially toxic social environment. I understand that people are spreading salacious and sometimes outright false rumours about the Gym and my own family. Lawrence Wright will be in contact with many individuals as the Pewter Gym and my family will not stand for our image being tarnished like this. The Gym will continue to take on challengers and no changes in the operations will be occurring. We hold ourselves to a high standard at the gym and our record speaks for itself. This is not the first time someone has tried to degenerate us. We're tough though, as Rock type trainers we know the need for a strong exterior."I nodded to the crowd of reports. "Thank you there will be no more questions.""Gym Leader Brock!" A few people surged forwards only for me to ignore them and move back into the Gym. Lawrence stayed behind with an evil glint in his eyes as he pressed for names and sources of rumours with more than a few reporters clamming up. Rachel and a few interns that now worked for Lawrence flitted through the crowd reminding them precisely what they could and could not print. They were even given it in writing.I turned my attention back to the Gym and exhaled away the tension. That was just the start of it in truth. The first wave to roll in. I would leave it to Rachel and Lawrence to handle.I just had to handle running the Gym.A much tougher task I found. Yesterday I'd been able to glide along on inertia. When I'd stopped though I found myself merely going through the motions as I noticed all the spots I would have to reorganise jobs around Forrest and his departure.It left me distracted and annoyed. People earned their gym badges through wider, or much, much more narrow margins throughout the morning. It got to the point that Rocko approached me. "You sure you're up for this man?" he indicated into the arena and the oncoming challenger for the Ace match.I played with the pokeball and sighed. "... I can't say that I'm feeling on top of the world right now, but… that's life as a Gym Leader sometimes," I said with splayed hands.Rocko grimaced. "Yeah, it ain't all glamorous magazines and prestige. Just seems this year has been rougher than usual."I nodded in agreement. "Well, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter win or lose," I said, trying to let myself relax as I twisted my pokeball around."Hmmm yeah, I suppose." he said, scratching at his chin. "I still feel like there's too much going on, you know?""Well we've got it handled for now. And we can adjust for the future."Rocko watched me for a moment. "How much do you believe that? We're under a lot more pressure and with people probing at you more often these days…" he licked his lips. "I think we might need to adjust things now. You're taking on too much work."I chewed my lip unsure how to answer that. I ended up not answering at all as Rachel introduced the challenger for today's Ace match up, and likely Will plant, Talia.I stalked out a moment later with the crowd cheering my name. I tried to feel the moment but I found myself rather annoyed by it rather than enjoying it like I should have.I leapt across the divide to the podium and locked eyes with Talia who grinned in delight raising a pokeball in readiness. I grunted and gave a nod to Jackson."Go Onix!" I shouted, releasing my pokemon only to grimace as I realised straight away that I'd tossed the pokeball too far. He was easily within striking distance of the Primeape that had just been revealed.Trainer Talia grinned at me, a sharpness entering her gaze that let me know she knew exactly what to do with my error."Begin!" announced Jackson as his flags dropped."Primeape! Use Close Combat!""Protect!" I said, already on the back foot and knowing this was going to be a tough fight. Primeape hammered into the shell that was emitted from Onix but that wouldn't last long."Use Swagger!" called Talia.I frowned. That was a good move for boosting power certainly, but it had a lot of downsides for controlling pokemon. Her Primeape stopped beating on the protective shell and strutted left and right while jerking his head back and forth in an exaggerated manner. Then it snapped its head around and glowered as some people in the crowd laughed."PRRRRRRRIIIIIIMMMMMMEEEE APE!" it screeched before locking eyes with Onix as the protective shell came down."Dig!" I said making my pokemon throw itself into the ground. Primeape threw itself where my pokemon had been before stopping and looking around in confusion. Then it screamed and raised a foot before smashing it into the ground. The ground cratered, and Onix was blasted up out of the ground with a heavy groan.I had no idea what move that was. Thrash perhaps? It seemed stronger but that might just be a testament to this particular Primeape. Before Onix could even land Primeape leapt up into the air and started hammering his fists into my pokemon's face.I cursed and whipped out my pokeball to recall my now knocked out pokemon before it could be brutalised any further. The flag raised in the direction of Talia and Jackson called her victory. Primeape landed and growled looking around for another opponent before it locked eyes with Jackson who tensed up behind his barrier as it marched towards him.He kept his eyes vaguely on the pokemon but not staring into its eyes though which it would perceive as a challenge.I readied another pokeball and tossed it out only to curse myself. I would have just let the potential foul play out. If Talia couldn't control her pokemon it would have been recalled and put out of the fight. Talia herself relaxed even as Zephyr, my Noctowl, took to the field, or rather soared above it.Jackson relaxed a little and I beat myself up over thinking about leaving him in even potential danger. Urgh I was really messing things up lately wasn't I? How could I think like that?"Primeape! That bird's looking down on you! Use Thunderbolt!" Talia said more than happy to take my distraction and run with it.I grimaced. "Zephyr, dive and use Steel Wing!" Across from me Primeape lit up like he was going Super Saiyan as lightning shot off him leaving his hair even more spiked up as it attacked.Zephyr dove and sunk his metal sheen wings into the ground allowing them to reduce the impact of the ability. Primeape charged across the gap screaming its name and practically frothing at the mouth."Hypnosis," I said, making Zephyr lock eyes with the oncoming pokemon. Primeape jerked mid stride and skidded as it fell asleep. Its momentum saw it carried forward and it landed practically at my pokemon's feet.I glanced up to see if Talia wanted to withdraw it only for her to smirk. "Use Thunderbolt," she said.Primeape's head snapped up and it glared at Zephyr as it blasted him with another lightning bolt, this caught us both off guard and my pokemon was thrown back by the powerful lightning attack.Zephyr took a tumble before righting himself and glaring at the pokemon that was stomping and shaking its head. "A sleep resistance?" I said aloud.Talia shrugged her shoulders, not playing into the trope of revealing anything much to my grudging approval.I clicked my tongue. "Zephyr, return." I selected another pokeball and tossed out my next pokemon and hopefully my answer to this rampaging pokemon. "Go Selene!"This time I made sure to give her enough room to make it much harder on Primeape getting close. Talia clicked her tongue as she assessed Primeape. "Stomping Tantrum," she ordered, giving me a name for the move he'd used earlier on Onix while underground."Moon Blast," I replied with.Selene charged up a pink orb and launched it at Primeape while Primeape stomped his feet causing the ground to shatter even more and dust to fly up into the air and make visibility poor, sort of like a sandstorm.A screech of pain let me know I'd landed the hit but the rampaging growls that followed also told me that Primeape was very much not down for the count."Psychic, clear the field." In front of me, Selene's eyes glowed and the dust was swept from the field as though a giant had swung his fist. Talia and Primeape were both startled by the sudden visibility and I grinned. "Psychic," I ordered again. This time resulting in Primeape lifting up and slamming into the ground as my pokemon ruthlessly hammered the rage pokemon.I made a gesture and Selene stopped using Primeape like a chew toy. The angry ape still stood up and adopted a fighting pose, albeit one that wasn't very threatening as it trembled and quaked.I hardened myself to order Selene to continue only to be pleasantly surprised when Talia returned her pokemon. "I withdraw him; he's going to be too injured.""I'm surprised you did that with how notorious that pokemon can be."Talia snorted. "I might have taught him the Wrath fist style of fighting but that doesn't mean I don't pull him up. He's not going to get stronger from killing himself or being killed after all."I nodded, pleased that she was a caring trainer. She might have known how to use my concern earlier for maximum effect, but that and this were, in truth, two different situations.She grinned as she selected another pokeball. "Let's go Blastoise!" she said, sending out a powerful-looking specimen. The crowd cheered for the evolved starter and the pokemon adjusted its water cannons onto my pokemon."Surf!" said Talia, once more eager to get things started before I had any time to set up. A wave rose and began to barrel forwards with Blastoise riding in the middle of the wave like a swimmer rather than how most would on top of the wave."Psychic!" I countered. The entire wave shuddered and crashed as Selene gutted its momentum. Blastoise grinned as he continued forward."Rapid Spin!" ordered Talia as her pokemon tucked its arms and legs into his shell and water shot out like whips. It raced in at Selene and I clicked my tongue."Teleport!" I said hoping I had enough time only to click my tongue as I realised I should have used Protect or something else. Selene got away, but she appeared on the other side with a weak wobble that let me know she'd been hit before doing so.She swung around with a glower and I decided to pull her back. "Return Selene," I said.A flag went up and I worked my jaw considering who I should pick to answer this pokemon. While I did so I took in the state of the battlefield. It was a wreck. There was loose rock everywhere and it would make normal running attacks a nightmare for my heavier pokemon. Also with Blastoise ending up on my side of the field, there was going to be some issues with positioning when I released my next pokemon."Go Sanchez!" I shouted. My pokemon appeared with his usual bombastic cry as he squared up against Blastoise.Talia clicked her tongue though and returned her pokemon before tossing out a Victreebel right in the middle of the field and now arguably much closer to my Golem than I would have liked."Thunder," I said, fully expecting her to have a reply but still wanting to test her response."Vine Whip!" she countered, her pokemon's large vines shooting into the ground."Sanchez! Leap to the side!" I shouted as I recognised the two-sided nature of the move she'd just used. It could be used for defence and also for— Two vines shot out of the ground where Sanchez had been standing even as the electricity died off from Sanchez's attack.I clicked my tongue. I really needed a strong fire or flying type right now to answer this and Sanchez wasn't going to be a good call."Return!" I said, hating that I was having to use my recalls so much during this match. "Go Bertha!" I might not have a perfect option with Zephyr being tired from his earlier beat down but I did have another option.Talia hadn't been idle however as she'd ordered a "Sunny Day!" That let me know what she intended to do."Solar Beam!" was the next command out of her mouth like I'd expected it to be."Match it with Ice Beam!" I said, confident in my pokemon. Bertha locked herself in with a twist of her feet and from in front of her a large blue beam was shot forward where it was met by a Solar Beam from Talia's Victreebel. Both attacks locked in an energy clash as both pokemon tried to power through each other. For a moment I felt my heart clench as the tug of war of energy ticked towards Bertha."FIGHT THROUGH!" I shouted in support. Bertha took a step forward rather than backing off and her beam stopped faltering and instead regained ground. A second later it cut off in time with Solar Beam leaving both Victreebel and Bertha heaving in lungfuls of air."Synthesis," said Talia, making me grimace. With Sunny Day in play she'd get a lot more out of that with making her pokemon recover its energy."Focus," I said to Bertha. She relaxed herself and glanced back at me, the command more about readying her for my next command than any actual move. I swallowed, ready to roll the dice again.I locked eyes with Talia and she grinned, confident in her ability to power through this time."Solar Beam!" she said."Drop to your belly! Then Ice Beam!" I said. Bertha didn't hesitate to drop on her stomach like she was flopping into a mud pit then she tilted her head and fired her Ice Beam straight at Victreebel before the other pokemon could readjust where it was aiming. The Solar Beam roared straight over my prone pokemon even as the Ice Beam nailed the other pokemon."Yes!" I said, pumping my fist as Victreebel was frozen in place.Talia clicked her tongue and returned her pokemon after seeing that it technically could still fight but she'd be putting it in danger. "You'll be back soon buddy," she said as she eyed the Sunny Day that had gotten slightly smaller. It would fade soon but for now it was still in play."Go Camerupt!" said Talia revealing another pokemon. I hummed. Camerupt, Blastoise, Primeape, and Victreebel. This girl had the makings of a very balanced and powerful team."Return!" I said. I chewed my lip and considered what I had as an answer to Camerupt. I'd used Zephyr, Onix, Selene, Bertha, and Sanchez, meaning whoever I used now would be my last pokemon for this match. I glanced down at the broken field and felt like cursing. Bertha wouldn't be able to use her One hit moves as well with the state of the field… If I sent out Titan he'd be able to make good use of the field… But then again, so would Sanchez.I decided to use my more bombastic pokemon and leave myself some options. "Go Sanchez!" I said returning him to the field where he grinned in delight."Go Go GO!" he shouted."Eruption!" commanded Talia with a vicious grin. The Sunny day was faltering just as her Camerupt took a heavy step forward and lava blasted from the volcano in his back and splattered around the field. Lots of it began to fall on Sanchez however.I was almost about to order him to dig when I spotted the oncoming lava that was sweeping out of Camerupt to make the field much more dangerous to dig through. He could do it, it would just hurt him."Roll to the side and use Stone Edge to defend!" I said making my pokemon dodge before landing on one knee and hurling rocks into the sky. He started blasting away like an AA gun stopping oncoming missiles rather than mere rocks."Sunny Day!" said Talia as her follow-up move."Stone Edge on the attack!" I said, more than happy enough to go on the offensive. Camerupt merely took the hits with a harsh call, it stumbled on the still hot ground but otherwise snorted and held its ground."Return!" said Talia, making me grit my teeth. How many of those had she used already? I ran it back in my mind. I was on four and she must be the same. She sent out her Victreebel and for a moment I was confused before I saw the ice melt on top of the much hotter ground that her Camerupt had set up.She grinned at me and I had to nod in acknowledgement. It was a good move."Stone Edge!" I said. Acknowledging it as a good move didn't stop me from attacking her while she was still weak though. She'd more than proved that she was willing to not hold back. I couldn't afford to not do the same.The rocks slammed into the other pokemon, thankfully she wasn't resistant to it with Rock not being as weak as Electric attacks. I half considered it before reminding myself that even without the Vine Whip trick she'd still be resistant to electric attacks."Solar Beam!" she said."Dig," With the ground slightly cooled down I had no issue making my pokemon leap into the earth to evade the attack. When he came up he did so slightly glowing but otherwise not hurt."Stone Edge!""Synthesis!" she replied with, making good use of the Sunny Day."Stealth Rock," I said, reminding myself that I needed to play to Sanchez's strengths. I had room to breathe and I needed to make the most of that. Talia swore and I grinned. Oh? So she had been trying to stop me from setting up like I usually might? Interesting."Solar Beam!" she said again. Only for my response to lead to Sanchez getting closer. This time he anticipated my order and as he rose out of the Dig he lashed out with some glowing red rocks that hit Victreebel and caused it to squeal in more pain."Urgh! Victreebel quick! Use Vine Whip to wrap him up! Don't let him get away!""Sanchez get out of there with another Dig!" Sanchez leapt away evading the attak."Synthesis one last time!" Talia said as she glanced up at the fading Sunny Day.I grimaced. She was really going to drag this out wasn't she? "Stealth Rock again!" Then again that suited me more than her."Victreebel Sunny Day!" she said as I got one more Stealth Rock in and completed my set up of the field, albeit much later than usual into a fight."Leap towards the light with Vine Whip!" Talia said, making her pokemon leap up. Sanchez cried out as the other pokemon forced him to lose sight of her with the Sunny Day blinding him."Thunder! Fill the Arena! Don't let them see you!" I said. I felt myself grinning, if Mia and Silly Mouse were watching they'd recognise this move.Sanchez blasted out an attack and suddenly everyone was blinded as the flash of lightning made it impossible to determine what was going on.A thump landed close to Sanchez and Talia reacted. "Use Leaf Blade and swing wide in an arc!""Dig!" I said to evade the attack only for Sanchez to be much closer than either of us realised as he yelped in pain. I blinked through tears and saw him skidding backwards."Again! Vine Whip!""Stone Edge! Fill the skies!" I said making my pokemon blast upwards and nail the soaring Grass Type. Victreebel went down and stayed down this time. I grimaced. My plan hadn't played out like I'd hoped but then again it didn't mean it wasn't a good one. I'd just rolled dice against Talia and she'd lucked out with how things played out.She returned her pokemon and sent out Camerupt once more. The pokemon snorted in annoyance as the Stealth Rocks activated and slammed into his hide before glowering at Sanchez who shot some fists forward in readiness."Stone Edge!" I said to start things off."Earthquake!" Talia replied, making her pokemon endure the hits to take a heavy stomp that smashed into Sanchez. It proved too much as he fell to the side with a groan.A cry went up from the crowd at his loss and I smiled. He still remained a crowd favourite it seemed. I tapped my fingers between two pokeballs and considered my choices. The ground was much more solid now thanks to Camerupt and I didn't want that pokemon running about for any longer.I decided to knock it out now. "Go Bertha!"Bertha appeared with a mighty roar. Talia huffed in annoyance."Impact Driver!" I said, committing to the move as I leaned forward.Bertha's horn and fingers spun up as she adopted her pose. Talia stiffened."Camerupt! Earthquake! Take her out now!" around Bertha the ground buckled and slammed into her but she merely grunted.Talia hissed in annoyance. "Fine! All or nothing! Camerupt use Fissure!"I hissed. "Now or never Bertha!" I said, forced to move at the threat of what could come my way.Both pokemon moved. Camerupt with heavy stomp while Bertha dropped to the ground and threw her fist downwards.For a moment there was stillness and it was only through instinct that I braced for impact.A moment later the arena detonated as rocks and even scraps of metal exploded. The barriers blazed into the visible spectrum for a moment before I lost track of where up and down was. The world shook and I had to drop into a three point pose to stay upright.When the attacks stopped it came just as suddenly and it took me a moment to realise it wasn't aftershocks but rather my own body shaking. I stood up and glanced around. The crowd were in shock but safe. The barriers were red but as I watched they slowly began to turn orange signifying they were out of the critical danger point of shattering and merely at ten percent functional strength. Across from me Talia was on her side. I was about to call out to her when she moved. She sat up and gaped at the field."Woah…" she said. I glanced down and whistled. The arena was a torn-up wasteland with even some of the underlying metal that acted as a 'basement' on how deep pokemon could go to evade attacks was visible in parts.I knew from talking with and seeing it poured that the metal was another good fifty centimeters thick, or, in my old life's terms, almost battleship hull thickness. I could see thin cuts along it where it had been affected, but it would take a lot more punishment yet.Bertha was flat on her back with a content smile on her face while across from her Camerupt was likewise on his side. Both of them passed out from the attacks."Woah, never had that happen before…" Talia said."It's rare enough to get two pokemon that know such moves going against each other, let alone both pulling them off. Did you train yours to be more guaranteed?" I asked.She shook her head still staring, apparently shock was enough to make her forget her plan to not give away any information about herself. I hummed and nodded. So she really had rolled the dice. I was starting to get the idea that this girl wasn't afraid to take risks on chance plays."Should we continue?" she said, glancing at the barriers.I hummed. They were becoming yellow now which meant they were at twenty five percent. "Give them another few minutes. Let's return our pokemon yeah? That makes us both three down now." I eyed the field and saw that none of the Stealth Rocks had survived the clash of attacks which wasn't all that surprising but still a shame.Talia stood up. "Please! You've shown five of your pokemon and I think we all know who's your last pokemon! I have answers for him!"I tilted my head and plucked the Greatball from my necklace. "Is that what you think?"She smirked and threw out a Poliwrath. I paused before smiling as she threw it right to the centre circle that was actually cut through the middle with a small canyon. I grinned, my mind unable to keep up with the sudden flash of insight I had.She was confident she had answers, so why not let her have it."Go Titan!" I said releasing pokemon but instead of setting him up far away from a pokemon that on paper perfectly countered him I put him right in front of the Poliwrath and in the circle. Talia blinked in surprise before leering.My pokemon had no room to move, and in a very tight space. Titan glowered at the Poliwrath that looked like Christmas had come early.I felt both energies I had within me spiking as I synced with Titan. "Quake," I said even as Titan lifted his tail and slammed it into the ground. Before Poliwrath could launch into the attack he stumbled and cried out, the ground attack worked well against him thanks to the fighting type.Titan grabbed his foe before flipping it and throwing it into the fissure before Talia could order a water move. Poliwrath was thrown straight into the canyon where it rolled around to stand up and glower at Titan.Titan looked down with a snort before raising a foot this time. "Quake," I said once more. This time the move was particularly effective, as Poliwrath had no room to move.Poliwrath was blasted out of the canyon and landed with a thump. It didn't struggle to rise and Talia stared at her downed pokemon.The crowd fell silent for a moment before roaring to life,as I allowed myself a smile. Titan's sandstorm ability had barely even started to come into effect before I'd taken apart her 'answer' to him.People really didn't understand the significance of my owning a Poliwrath and how it made for the perfect training partner for Titan when he finally evolved. I'd gone out of my way to catch a Poliwag. A water-fighting type? Please, I was more than aware of how to fight against that.Talia returned her pokemon before throwing out another. "Go Blastoise!"Her pokemon appeared, this time with a lot of space between them. She wasn't going to let Titan close it seemed. "Hydro Pump!" she barked, causing the cannons to level onto Titan."Dig around a bit," I said. Titan dove into the ground and like a shark in water the spikes on his back stuck out. Above him, the Sandstorm whipped up into full strength and visibility died away."Use Surf! Evade the oncoming attack and flood the field!"Titan dipped lower into the ground before lurching upwards. I knew what he was doing even without giving the command as he retreated to where Blastoise would be.Then he got right in front of the wave in a leap that saw him dead centre of the crush point. "Protect," I said before my pokemon had even stood upright. The defensive move resulted in Blastoise being ejected from the wave to tumble end over end on the part of the field Titan was on.Titan dropped the Protect and whirled about like the predator he was. He stomped into the ground and once more the earth rumbled as he used Earthquake to make Blastoise totter and stumble."Stone Edge," I said, making Titan keep his opponent off balance."Protect!" Talia said, making her pokemon turtle up fully."Get in close and grapple," I said. Titan lurched forward and as the Protect shell dropped Blastoise suddenly found itself being grabbed up by my pokemon and lifted."Skull Bash!" ordered Talia. Blastoise drew his head in only for my pokemon to hurl it away and cause it to splash into the lagoon that had formed from the canyon in the aftermath of the Surf."Stone Edge again," I said, causing the lagoon to suddenly become a much more dangerous space for her pokemon. The Sandstorm once more came into effect."Hydro Pump!" She said only for the attack to miss what her Blastoise was targeting, to be revealed as a large rock. Titan lunged out of the Sandstorm from another position like his instincts demanded of him and he knocked Blastoise out of the water and back onto dry land where it fell still.The crowd erupted and began to chant his name like they had for him when I faced off against Lance."TITAN! TITAN! TITAN!"Others started the stomp stomp clap and Talia glanced up as the crowd really made itself felt. Titan smiled as he slunk back into the now-reformed Sandstorm.Talia let her hand wander before her expression firmed up. "Let's go Machoke!" she said, revealing her final pokemon. I paused at that reveal.No psychic pokemon? She wasn't one of Will's plants? Or was he trying something else?"Machoke, use Detect to get through the Sandstorm!""Earthquake," was my response to make sure he didn't have an easy time of it. I could almost see Machoke leaping high into the sky to get to Titan despite that though. "Leap back," I said. Titan hopped backwards and I made out his shape evading a pokemon that had slammed into place where he'd been."Bullet Punch!" Talia said, committing to fighting in close.I leaned forward, smelling the blood in the water. "GO!" I said. Titan threw himself into the attack and from close range he shrugged off the Steel type attack to slam into Machoke and send him flying with Giga-Impact.Machoke hit the far wall where he slumped down. I let out a huge sigh of relief as Talia returned her pokemon and Jackson raised a flag."Machoke is unable to battle! Brock and Titan are the victors!"I leaned slumped in relief as Titan dissipated the Sandstorm and threw his head back and roared his victory. When he was done the crowd stayed quiet before erupting in applause. Titan waved at them with a huge reptilian grin.I started to lower the podiums only for it to lurch rather than glide down. I clicked my teeth. Looks like more than I had bargained for had been damaged when Camerupt and Bertha clashed.I hopped over the side and approached Talia to shake her hand. She approached with a slight slump to her shoulders. "Urgh! I had you! I totally almost had you!"I inclined my head. "Yeah, you kinda did." Titan approached and smiled at Talia allowing me to pat him fondly. "And then you didn't," I said as I smiled up at my starter.Talia looked up at him. "He really is a beast. Urgh, I thought I had it with Poliwrath. If only I could work out how to evolve my Machoke then I'd break into the top fifty!"I hummed and tilted my head. "Hmmm you haven't been able to approach Kong about learning to evolve your Machoke?"Talia grimaced. "I had to spar with him and I'm not great at hand to hand so he didn't want to train me. And before you ask, Chuck is full up on apprentices. He had one graduate earlier and there was a huge fight to get the spot which I missed out on even challenging for."I rubbed my chin in thought. "Do you like surfing? That apprentice that graduated from Chuck's Gym is around Kanto. He's a real surfer nut by the name of Brawly. If you want, I could get you in touch.""Oh? That would be great!" she said with a smile.I nodded. "I'd be interested in what he makes of your Primeape."Talia grimaced. "I tried the 'way of peace' training that so many people push for with Primeapes but he didn't respond well to it. He prefers to lash out and fight as much as he can." She rubbed the back of her head. "Gonna have to have his favourite food out and ready when I take him to the nurse. He's strong but you have to really work at him to get the most out of him, sometimes I don't think he cares if he dies when he fights."I grimaced. It was a well-known cause of Primeape death, that their hearts gave out as their spirits demanded they keep fighting. Most people use a calming mind method of training them due to the risks of using 'wrath style' fighting that came naturally to Primaeape."Well you're managing him and looking after him." I said.I then glanced to the side. "I think I'm going to have to get the base structure checked over and possibly repaired before I hold another match here. Might be onto the battlecourts for me for the rest of the day."Talia glanced at it before giggling. "Oh, I'm sorry about that!" She said as she surveyed the devastation. I waved it off before saying good bye to her.I marched into the medical wing where Rocko and Jackson were waiting for me. I gave orders for them as they handed me an energy drink and a sandwich that I chowed down as Chansey went to work on my team.All of them were worse for wear with only Titan having superficial injuries. Bertha was out for at least a week as were Sanchez and my Onix. I patted him. "Next week buddy you're getting your metal coating alright?"He crooned happily at that and I grinned.I leaned against the bed and sighed. "Damn, that girl almost beat me," I said aloud.Rocko chuckled. "She wasn't sixty-second on the Ace leaderboard without reason Brock. You sure you wanted to help her get stronger?""That's what I'm supposed to do as a Gym Leader," I said."Ah but as an Ace trainer, that shouldn't be what you think of."I snorted and nodded, agreeing with him. "Guess it just comes too naturally for me," I said, taking my last bite of my sandwich. When I was done I picked up where I'd left off an earlier conversation, "I think you're right by the way. We need to start taking less challenges and ease the load on the gym."Rocko relaxed at that, adopting his more typical slouch. "Good to hear, after next week's break I'm taking off, remember? It's for my leave with my little brother and sister. Give them two weeks of work on the road and get them some badges before we come back here."I smiled. "Ho? Not challenging here first? Where are you going first?" I asked.Rocko started talking and I listened in. I still had more matches to see to, but it was good to take some time. As Rocko had once said. You need to slow down sometimes. I couldn't wait for next week when I had some proper downtime.Alexa walked in and grimaced when she saw me so relaxed with my pokemon. "Brock, the Chief of Police is here." I groaned and stood up before my face hardened. Alexa shifted. "He said he's here to apologise to you?"I blinked. "Huh, well alright then." Looks like I wasn't going to have another issue to deal with."How's the next match looking?""Missy just beat them so you have another hour of free time before the next potential Gauntlet challenge.""Will wonders never cease, " I said standing and checking over all of my pokemon before moving away. "Let's see what the Chief of Police has to say for himself."
109
When I reached my office, I found the chief of Police sitting with his hat in his hands. He was literally, and physically sitting there, hat in hand, the very picture of a disheartened police officer. I took a moment to stare before firming up my resolve, I wasn't going to be swayed, even if he was sorry about what had happened."A little on the nose, isn't it?" I said, entering as he played with the badge on his hat.He jerked up, apparently having gotten lost in thought. I swept past him, assuming my spot behind the desk, my hands lacing together as I eyed him. "I feel like I should be informing Lawrence of your visit here," I said to start things off.Bosco, the Pewter City chief of police, chuckled only to shake his head as sadness took over his features. He ran a hand through his thinning hair and scratched at his head before running it down his face in an explosive sigh."Well, he'd come and growl around a lot, but it isn't something I'm going to put up any fight over. I looked through the logs and video records for how things played out." He gave me a look. "That was handled… poorly."When I raised an eyebrow and turned my body fully towards him. Making it clear through my body language alone, that I considered that an understatement.He winced, "Well, alright, it was handled like a dumpster fire with the only pokemon on hand being a Koffing and an idiot to give it orders." He threw his hands up and shook his head."Just about everyone that was involved in that field of Tauros shit is getting benched and retrained, minimum! There's a number of people that I can't just ship off, and firing them isn't an option with labour laws as they are!"Bosco slumped into his chair and shook his head in disgust. "I've just spent the morning shouting with the Mayor and while I know from talking with some people—" he waved his hand about when I tilted my head. —"You know, the big names in the community. Like old Judge Howard, Mrs Haridan, Madam Pennywrong, Mr Wright, and such." I tilted my head at Lawrence and Mrs Haridan being included on that list."They all know that Jonathan's making a beeline for something higher and he wants it worse than a starved Snorlax wants a ton of produce! He's charging through everything despite the people he's burning on his way through."I frowned. "Does this seem… out of character for him?" I asked as a horrible possibility raised its head.Bosco sighed and looked down. "Nah, I see what you're worried about with Will, especially with what we know about him now."Bosco shook his head. "I'm sad to say that Jonathan's always been a power-hungry fool. Needed to have the best house, the best wife, the best job. I think he's worked out that it's possible to get the top job in the League in his head and he wants it. He has the best things in Pewter… now he's dipping his toes into a bigger pool.""Why did this man ever get elected as Mayor?" I suddenly regretted not being aware of things when I took over. I'd let it be… and now I was regretting that.Bosco flicked his hand back and forth. "People like us, those who have been harmed by him? We're in the small minority. He is masterful at weaving a public story that most people will eat up. He knows how to talk the talk, and he is nearly constantly doing it.""Hmmm, he has rivals and detractors on the city council though? Aren't they going to work against him?""He got a number of people that work for him or at least with him on the council in the last election. Up until now, it hadn't been an issue. Made him decisive with policies that helped out the city. He's made a lot of people, both his friends and the people of Pewter, wealthy, healthy, and happy."I huffed in annoyance before something Bosco had said tickled at my brain. "What did you mean by people like us? that have been harmed by him? How has he harmed you?""... I'm being asked to retire. That is a power he still has, along with the appointment of the people that will select the next one."I blinked. "He's firing you?""I'm being asked to step down." He gave me a smile that let me know how full of Tauros droppings that reason was. "Labour laws remember. He doesn't need to fire me due to my age. I've been here a long time, and it hasn't been an issue.""Until now," I said. I drummed my fingers. "I'm now getting a picture of a Spinarak that has been weaving a delicate web that won't last very well without his control at the centre."Bosco nodded. "Indeed, that's my worry."I tilted my head. "You're not just here to apologise are you? You want something from me?" I said, my eyes narrowing.Bosco chuckled. "Yes, as it happens, there is something you can do for Pewter City. Your agreement with the City, or rather your family's agreement with the Gym was something that was awarded at the end of the War. It has certain privileges that you've never used, and now that's biting us in the backside."I sat up to snap at him for accusing me of getting us into this problem only for him to raise his hands in supplication. "Sorry, no that came out wrong." He rubbed his hands. "You've been busy with running the Gym and your family. And that's only gotten harder with people sticking their nose into your business."I leveled a look letting him know he was clearly doing just that. He smiled tightly. "I'm asking you to use your family's agreement to appoint someone to the committees and meetings that see the city operating.""I already have my Lawyer seeing to the Gym's interests at the League as my representative.""This is different, Brock. This isn't just for the Gym's interest but Pewter's. Pewter is more than just a place on the map; it's a home where people grow up, raise their kids, train their pokemon, and live their lives. They shouldn't be just hard numbers or lines on the page. I was hoping you might consider a suggestion of mine.""What, do you want to sit on the committees?" I said incredulously."No, it's annoying but I think… I think Jonathan might have a good point asking me to retire, albeit he's gone about it in a terrible manner. Even if he backpedals hard and asks me to stay… He's shown that I'm just expedient. No, better someone younger rises up.""What, like Officer Jenny?" I said snarkily.Bosco, rather than dismissing the suggestion or laughing like I thought he might, shook his head sadly. "No, I know she's been in the police for a while now, and done good work despite sneaking around the recruiting age… somehow," he muttered to himself.He straightened up. "She doesn't have the experience. Not like her aunt does. I'd like you to appoint her aunt to represent your Gym. She'd come with a sterling reputation thanks to her family's work.""Which police district does she work with?" I asked, curious despite myself."She doesn't. Got into a bad accident with a murderer that was using a Scyther of all things. Got hurt bad enough that not even Joy and a team of Blissey's, nor using donated Ditto cells could get her walking properly. She retired," I frowned at the way he'd worded that, "but she still knows right from wrong. Decided to help out in different ways, she chairs some charity organisations and such.""When was this?" I asked, curious despite myself.Bosco grimaced. "Before you left, about seven, eight years ago?"I hummed and drummed my fingers. "So, you've come to apologise, admit fault, which as I said, Lawrence will plug you for all he's worth, and then you want me to appoint someone to the council? Specifically a former…" I almost said Jenny before shaking my head. She hadn't stopped being a Jenny despite her injury but now she was a former police officer.I drummed my fingers only to stop. "I'll look into her, but I might have some other thoughts on who to appoint," I said, lacing my fingers together. I was going to have to call Erika for this.Bosco nodded. "I'll save you the time. They have to be a local that has lived here ten years at least. So, no outsiders, other than that I think it's your choice. Old Gym agreements are like that."I didn't comment on that. Bosco must have known that I didn't know that to have mentioned it. Did he know I was going to tap Erika on the shoulder for her advice? Or was he afraid I'd bring someone else in and make a fool of myself? Instead, I decided to check something I hadn't looked at in years now.I reached over and pulled out a file and leafed through it to find that it had Lola's name on it. I stared at it, wondering why her name was there. I hadn't paid much attention to it in the past. Why wasn't it Flint's name?Bosco stared at it before pointing at a line. "Yup, there it is, the bearer of this seal is entitled to owning, and the operation of the Pewter City pokemon Gym to represent Pewter as a whole. To be passed onto their descendants or successors of choice." Bosco nodded his head."Hmmm, indeed. I have a question that I've never had a proper answer to." I tapped the name on the page. "What did Lola do to earn the rights to the Gym?"Bosco sucked on his teeth and squirmed. "Urgh, we don't really talk about it, you know? She did good work though, well and truly earnt it, there's no question about that!" he said quickly."What. did. she. do?" I said sternly.Bosco shifted back and forth in his chair like a Weedle was sitting underneath him and prodding him with its stinger. "Brock, talking about the war, it brings up a lot of memories, mostly bad ones for folks. We all tried to move on. We don't like dredging up stories of that time, even the good ones.""I find myself blindsided with certain facts that make this relevant, Bosco. What did she do? Or do I need to go find my answers elsewhere?" I flexed my fingers in agitation and resisted the urge to crack my neck. Bosco's evasion of my question was getting to me.Bosco shifted before sighing heavily and folding in on himself. He reached into a pocket and drew out a small black box with a switch on the side that he laid on the table. "These used to be big deals during the war. Psychic pokemon like Xatu could be put together in groups and be used to scry opposing forces for what they were planning. If you got one of these, you were in command of at least a platoon, which was either twenty or fifty people.""A dark emitter," I said with a nod.Bosco snapped his fingers and jerked his head up and down. "Right! Nowadays, almost everyone has one of these. Mind turning yours on? I… I still don't like talking about the war. Also, on the off chance someone was listening in I wouldn't want Lola to come in danger."I tilted my head. "The emitters in this room are already on, Bosco." I turned a screen around to show him the readings being fed onto a screen that a Porygon pecked at before spinning away. Even if we didn't have cyber security, I could feel the walls of the gym with my dark type energy. It helped that the topic we were discussing made sensing it all the easier.He chuckled and ran a hand over his thinning hairline. "Damn, I really am showing my age aren't I?" He sighed again before firming up his jawline."Right, it starts with your mother being from a rather prominent family that used to own a lot of land. Then the war happened, and they started losing out big. War wasn't good for their business, but your grandfather, he was a firm supporter of Pewter and was willing to push on. His nieces and nephews? Your mother's cousins? They weren't as happy. Started making deals, getting certain people in the way of them inheriting taken out as they started selling information. Lola, she'd been working as a scout for the army."She'd go out into the wilds and monitor Johto or other threats movements. She caught a number of raids coming before they ever got in danger of reaching Pewter, saving a lot of lives. The Johto folk caught on or were tipped off and started trying to kill her and the other scouts at the time. Your mother bunkered down and had to endure a lot of things. Heard she dug a foxhole with her Golem and Blastoise. They survived despite the fact that the mountain they were on was flattened."Bosco snorted. "Ever wonder about that little tidbit of Gyarados flattening mountains in their rage in the kiddies Pokedex?"Bosco smirked, his eyes distant, lost in memory. "Lola lived through that, got the information back to us and we matched the attackers. Pokemon for pokemon. She came out shaken and jittery. She was given time off to try and recover, which she decided to take. Went home…""Where she learned about her family betraying Pewter… and the rest of the family?" I asked, linking what he'd said earlier together."We're not sure how she did it, but she found something out though, and that sparked a fight at the family home. At first, people thought it was attackers going for her home, but when we got there Lola was facing off three of her cousins while trying to save her father. He died and so did her cousins but not before they confessed what they'd done. Scarred Lola something fierce…""She threw herself into working as a scout and then as a harasser against people attacking Pewter. Considering that it was mostly Blackthorn types by that stage of the war, she had it rough. Her pokemon got injured a lot and she had to get them carted into the nurses a lot. That's where your father met her, got her to settle down. By that stage, things were wrapping up and Lola was still a bit of a mess."Bosco shrugged. "The City saw her as a hero and wanted to reward her and her family for their sacrifice. Gave them the Gym Leader role, which Flint took over for a while there. Lola was still super jittery with pokemon fighting. She liked the wilds though, kept her love of it despite the war.""Hmmm," I said noncommittally. I rolled the fact around and found that it fit with my understanding of Lola. It didn't change that she obviously hadn't sorted herself out in the ensuing… twenty or so years? If anything she'd been more flighty with her family. I didn't want to think about her anymore for today. I could feel my dark energy starting to leak a little. Bosco shifted and glanced about, possibly feeling it.I took a steadying breath before speaking up, "I think I still have a lot more questions than answers, and a lot to think on.""Well, long as you're thinking. That was somewhat my intent coming here. Please consider talking with Old Lady Jenny," His lips twitched while he said this for some reason.I narrowed my eyes. "What do you find so funny?"Bosco made to wave it off before sighing. "Alright, I shouldn't jerk your's Onix's tail for some fun. In the force we call her Old Lady Jenny but in reality she's only thirty-five. She got her injury quite early on in her life.""Ah, I see." I rolled my eyes at his idea of a joke and waved him towards the door. "I'll consider it, but I think you're right. I have been lax in appointing a representative, and this latest… farce means I need to consider what I have available to me."Bosco nodded his head amicably. "I'll be sending Lawrence a blank check today. I'm sure he'll know what to do with it."I huffed. "I'm sure the widows, orphans and retirees…" I stopped and tilted my head. "This older Jenny, she'd benefit from donations to that as well, wouldn't she?"Bosco stared at me. "Oh, I forgot that you're not like those others that sue us…" I raised an unamused look at him.Bosco rubbed under his nose. "Yeah, she'd benefit from that…" He stared at me for a moment before nodding seriously. "I'm sorry things went down like they did Brock. I'm glad you're still a kid others can look up to."I snorted at him. "I'm hardly a kid, Bosco. Now, I'm sorry to say that I need to see to my next challenger. You know the way out."Bosco merely smiled wider at the dismissal and walked off like a man that hadn't been fired for all intents and purposes. I suppose the difference in years of outlook would result in it not being such a concern for a man like Bosco. I sighed and flicked on the screen to watch Missy's match up against another challenger.Banter was exchanged, and I could see the moment when the challenger said something ruder than they should have as Missy's brow twitched and her eyes glinted. Her hand also shifted from the normal position for a fourth-tier badge challenge and instead her Rhydon.She came out swinging hard and didn't stop swinging until she had her foe down and out. Considering they only brought two pokemon trained up to the level needed for a fourth-tier challenge, I had to consider them overconfident.As Missy had demonstrated. The gloves very much came off for a fourth-tier challenge if we wanted to. I sent a message to Missy to congratulate her on the impressive smackdown. Then I turned back to doing paperwork.Thanks to Missy I had a whole hour to work with, and I was going to make the most of it.I was feeling a bit more of a pep in my step for this next match up. I felt like I'd relaxed. Yeah, sure things had gotten out of hand with Forrest, but I was feeling optimistic about how things would turn out in future.After all, he was in good company.I marched out into the arena in time for my name to be announced. The challenger, Heidi, had done well for herself, challenging with the Gauntlet run at the third badge level. Interestingly, she had booked in two weeks ago. She'd done so while she'd been on her first badge. Since then, she'd collected the Cascade, and Rainbow badges."You moved on and fought the Cerulean sisters and Erika before me?" I said, curious as to her story.Heidi nodded. "Yeah, I realised I'd get more experience from moving around. I had to run a few times to make it work, but out of three challenges so far I have two badges." She raised her pokeball towards me and a glint entered her eyes. "I'm getting my third today!"I grinned, raising my own pokeball towards her. "Surge or someone else?""Surge," Heidi said before tossing her pokeball. "Enough talk! I'm taking you down Gym Leader!" On her side a Croconaw appeared.I tossed out my own choice. "Go, Rhyhorn!" My pokemon emerged with a heavy thud and growled before shaking his head. Across from me, Croconaw bared its teeth, and I hummed."You're one of Elm's sponsors?" I said, eyeing the pokedex on her hip.Heidi merely bared her teeth, much like her pokemon. "Croconaw, use Bubblebeam!""Bulldoze to the right!" I said forcing my pokemon to throw herself to the side with her horn glowing. She slammed straight through a boulder, causing debris to go flying and me to grin as the Bubblebeam missed. I was much happier with my placement now than I was earlier in the day.I was able to make way more use of the field. Now I needed to test her properly. The challenge came in making it slightly weaker than an out-and-out pokemon battle. She was a third badge challenger after all."Stealth Rock!" I said, setting up the field for the next few pokemon out. I had half an idea I wanted to test out."Croconaw! Stop that Rhyhorn from running! Scary Face!" The Croconaw growled and his eyes glowed causing my pokemon to stiffen up as the predatory threat from the other pokemon caused latent instincts to rear their head."Rhyhorn! Use Earthquake!" Rhyhorn raised a leg and stomped hard."Water Gun assisted jump!" Instead of leaping, her Croconaw did a headstand with its jaws facing down before rocketing up into the air. Heidi sighed at the frankly garish display. It soared over the ground as the Earthquake took effect. So, it looked bad but worked.I grunted as Croconaw landed and bounced a few times on his backside before whirling about."Water Gun again!" Heidi ordered."Dig!" I said to send my pokemon under the ground and out of danger."Protect!" Heidi called, causing a shield to form up around her pokemon. Only for nothing to happen for a while. Her pokemon's shield dropped, and Rhyhorn charged up out of the ground into an offensive position.Heidi coughed sheepishly as her pokemon shook itself off. "Timing was off." I hummed and didn't remind her that she'd made the move slower with her earlier use of Scary Face."Stealth Rock," I said again in lieu of an answer. I'd tell her after the match. Another trio of rock rose up and floated around the area causing Heidi to click her tongue in annoyance."Croconaw! Go for Focus Punch!""Dig!" I ordered again. Deciding to not make it easy.Heidi clicked her tongue. "Keep focusing, Croconaw! He's going to come up soon! React as fast as you can… you'll have the speed on him after all!" I smiled and nodded as she realised the issue on her own. She smirked when my Rhyhorn once more rumbled out of the ground. This time his lack of speed worked for Croconaw and Heidi as they met the attack with an empowered Focus Punch that knocked my pokemon out cold.I returned Rhyhorn and smiled. "Nicely done. You're using good tactics and have the typing match up. Let's see how you handle something a bit different though." I tossed out another pokeball. "Go Lileep!"My Gym's new pokemon species waved happily before locking onto the Croconaw with a stern set to its fronds. I grinned at the confused look on Heidi's face."What the? That's new… Must be Rock and… Grass type?" she said aloud while rubbing her chin. She shook her head. "Whatever! We're still going to win this! Croconaw, lock it down with Scary Face! Speed will decide this for us!""Ingrain," I said, happy to get a free turn of set-up for my pokemon."Close in, but knock it around with Water Gun!" said Heidi, causing her pokemon to charge in. I noticed that they shot a spread of attacks rather than just firing in line. With my ordering my pokemon to root itself in however that shouldn't have been needed."Lileep, use Mega Drain," I said only to frown as the Water Gun shots that should have missed arced around and hit Lileep. My pokemon rocked from the hits but the green glow of the Mega Drain didn't weaken at all, nor did my pokemon cry out. What was going on here?"Eh? What the?" said Heidi as her pokemon's move didn't seem to bother my pokemon at all.My pokemon instead drained hers as it charged in causing Croconaw to stumble before continuing to charge. "Focus Punch!""Astonish!" I called out making my pokemon snap its fronds wide and glare harshly at the Croconaw. Instead of building up for a punch that I knew would be super effective, it flinched."Wrap it up now that it's close!" My pokemon leaned in and grabbed the pokemon causing Croconaw to flail only for the fronds to tighten and Lileep's roots to dig into the ground. A pulse ran through my pokemon and I knew that it was only getting stronger thanks to the earlier Ingrain usage."No! Croconaw, use Ice Fang!" Heidi said only for her pokemon to not be able to get its jaw into the right position. My pokemon still shuddered at the closeness of the attack, showing that it didn't like it but it wasn't harmed too much."Mega Drain!" I called out, glad I could double down with Mega Drain potentially being stronger thanks to being in contact with the other pokemon.Croconaw flailed about but wasn't able to do much before slowly its struggles grew weaker and weaker. Then it clumped into my pokemon its energy spent."Urgh! Tough luck Croconaw!" Heidi said as she withdrew her pokemon. She grimaced before selecting her pokeball only to stop as her eyes flicked to the Stealth Rocks. She shifted from one pokeball on her belt to the next before clicking her tongue."Go Parasect!" Her crab pokemon revealed itself only for rocks to fly into it causing it to cry out in pain."Urgh! Fight through with Giga Drain! If Brock wants to do this, we have the stronger move to drain another pokemon!"I chuckled, she would come out better from the exchange, but she was discounting my use of Ingrain. She apparently didn't know what that did. She just had the benefit of having a pokemon that was resistant to Grass-type moves meaning Mega Drain wouldn't do much."Not going to try matching you hit for hit," I said. "Lileep, use Rock Tomb! Keep that Parasect locked down!" I was really bluffing here and making it look like I was more afraid of her bug attacks than her grass-type attacks."Ah!" Heidi said as rocks snapped up around her pokemon. Mine squirmed at the Giga Drain but seemed alright as her roots twitched.Heidi frowned, taking a moment to assess the situation. I gave her a two-second count before punching forward. "Again! Rock Tomb!"Once more her Parasect was slammed and she grimaced. "Stick to Giga Drain!" she said, backing herself.We traded blows, the slugfest now much more even, and therefore risky with her pokemon having a much tougher time as mine endured the Giga Drains. Eventually, both pokemon toppled.Jackson raised his flags in both directions. "Both pokemon are unable to battle! Gym Leader Brock has one more pokemon to use!"I hummed, toying with the idea of just accepting her victory. Heidi stared at me, a glint in her eyes that spoke of her determination. I nodded, accepting the unspoken challenge to take this all the way. "Go! Corsola!" I said with some glee."Eh? Corsola's a rock type?" said Heidi as she whipped out her pokedex."Corsola. A rock-water type pokemon that is known to inhabit coral reefs and rocky undersea cliffs along the coast. This pokemon is known to shed the horn and regrow it multiple times throughout its life.""Urgh!" Heidi said with annoyance.I hummed. "So you're game to use your pokedex here and now?"Heidi grinned and pointed at the empty field on her side. "No pokemon that you can target while I get information on your pokemon. I know I won't be able to do this in an actual tournament but I know this is allowed for Gym Challenges. Just about knowing when to use it."I nodded, once again, she was ticking another box in my book. Heidi clicked her tongue. "Alright! Let's go Vaporeon!" said pokemon took to the field with a cry of its name only to growl as rocks struck it."Hmmm a good answer," I said. "Corsola! Ancient Power!""Vaporeon, use Rain Dance!" It wiggled its tail and danced around, even dodging a few of Corsola's thrown rocks as water started to fall from the few quickly formed up clouds about the field."Using its water body eh?" I said. "I hope you didn't try this against Surge."Heidi coughed, and I caught some mutters regarding the combination of Thunder and Rain Dance not being known to her. I chuckled."Ancient Power again!" I said, committing to the only move that wouldn't benefit her pokemon."Use Surf!" said Heidi, causing a rather large tidal wave to build up and surge forward. I whistled, for a little pokemon that was rather impressive. It still didn't match the biggest wave in the Gym though, that honour went to Brawly and his Wailord.The attack slammed down on the arena, Corsola was tossed back. Heidi pumped her fist when it was revealed that the Stealth Rock's were out of play."Bulldoze," I said, causing my Corsola to surge through the muddy field and slam into Vaporeon. The other pokemon cried out in pain and tumbled about. Then it hopped onto its feet and shook itself off as rain fell onto it."Eh!?" Heidi said in shock. "Vaporeon, use Baton Pass!" She held up a pokeball and Vaporeon vanished as the pokeball in her hand opened up to reveal a Flaffy that shrieked as it took in all the mud around it.It grabbed at the wool around its hips and raised it up to do a sharp tip tap dance while glaring at Heidi who looked contrite. "Sorry! Use Thunderbolt and end this so we can get you washed up!"Flaffy leaped to obey, snapping around to launch a Thunderbolt at my pokemon."Bulldoze!" I cried out only for Corsola to take a powerful blast of lightning that ended the match.I returned her, impressed at the show of power. When we lowered the podiums, Flaffy leapt to Heidi and stood on her shoulders causing mud to be smeared over her face and shoulders as the Flaffy swatted at her trainer in reprimand."Sorry! Sorry! I just wanted you on the field to wrap things up! I forgot about how much you hate getting your fur wet! You did great though!" This got the Flaffy to slow its strikes before sticking its nose up."Nice work," I said, marching through the muddy field without concern. Flaffy looked horrified as I approached. I gestured to Jackson who was taking a much more hesitant path through the mud to reach us with the Badge case. I turned back to Heidi."So, I'll tell you right now that I think you have what it takes to have earned your third badge from me. Watch out from now on though, as the challenges will get harder." I pointed at her pokemon. "You're going to need to up your game tactics and strategy if you want to have a shot at taking out Surge, especially with your current team roster."Heidi nodded firmly. "Yeah, he wrecked us last time. I won't make the mistake of using Rain Dance ever again against an Electric type.""Good call; also learn what other pokemon might have Electric moves in their pool that are common to see. Like Gyarados, Starmie and others. The other option is to look for a pokemon that can act as a Lightning rod…" I trailed off thoughtfully. "Hey quick favour, can you scan my Lileep." I released her back onto the field. Her fronds wilted tiredly as she glanced around. I drew out some potion and began to spray her."Lileep, a Rock-Grass typing. This pokemon is only newly discovered, having been saved from extinction through use of a resurrection machine. Information and observations of this pokemon are highly sought after!"Heidi perked up. "Oh wow! Elm will be happy with me, when I write up a report on our fight and send it to him!""Hmmm, does your pokedex have the scan feature?""Scan feature," she said, offering her pokedex over to me. I took it and flipped through the options before finding a feature that I'd briefly discussed with Oak during a round of playing video games.I lined up the camera on my pokemon and the bulb flashed blue. "Scanning pokemon, please maintain position and keep pokemon in focus.""Lileep?" said my pokemon as the pokedex emitted a blue light. I clicked my tongue. Oak really needed to work on making the scanner more long-range for people's safety but it would work for what I wanted."Lileep, this pokemon is quite young. It knows the move Wrap, Astonish, Ingrain, Mega Drain, Sand Tomb, and Rock Throw. It also appears to draw water sources towards it to empower its ability to grow. This allows it to negate most water-type attacks that don't overpower it.""Huh, Storm Drain," I said aloud."Storm Drain?" asked Heidi.I scratched the back of my head. "It's an extra ability that some pokemon have. Makes this Lileep immune to single-focus water attacks, or it will become the focus of attacks on its allies in a multi pokemon battle." I rubbed my chin in thought. "This pokemon really does have a lot of surprises.""Urgh, tell me about it! If it wasn't a Rock type and if you hadn't set up with Stealth Rock earlier, I might have sent out my Pidgeotto or Butterfree.""Good call on that, the Stealth Rock would have made things rough, and you couldn't have known what my pokemon could and couldn't have done. How'd you find Erika's challenge?" I asked out of professional curiosity. It wasn't often I got trainers going to her before me."Really great actually! I spoke with her a bit and spent a day or two in her Gym. She showed me how to manage my team's dynamic when they're out of their pokeballs a lot better! It has made such a difference! She's so smart knowing how to get things just working with different personality types."I nodded slowly as I remembered how she'd helped me out with my last political problem."Yeeeeaaah, she really is clever about that side of things…" I said thoughtfully. I really needed to call her.Heidi departed with her Badge, her winnings in cash, and a plan for herself. I was confident I'd be seeing her at the end of the circuit and said as much before I used a break to fire off a message to Erika.She tried calling me back in the middle of a pokemon match and I had to ignore her call and send it to voicemail. When I got the time to check it, Erika had responded with a ten-minute talk discussing all the possible candidates that would make for good representatives I could put forward.She mentioned the older Jenny, the former Judge Howard, Mrs Haridan —who I actually knew rather well—, and a host of other names that I vaguely knew but Erika could recite stories off the top of her head about. When she signed off the message, I had to stare at my transceiver in surprise, only for Erika to call me again."Erika hey, it's Brock I have ten more minutes before my next challenge. I got your message.""Oh good! I thought of some other people that would also be good! So, James Prendigast is another fellow who worked for the Fire department that also did some time on council—"Erika then proceeded to talk my ear off for the next ten minutes about people she knew. I was rather gobsmacked that she knew so many locals. I didn't know who the pillars of the community were and I lived here!Jackson walked with me from the break room to the top of the trainer area overlooking the arena. "You look a bit put off Brock. You feeling okay?""Hmmm, yeah I'm alright, just got a rather big shake up from a social…expert?" I shrugged. "I don't even know what to call her, maestro maybe? In just how poor an understanding I have of the social scene.""We're all good at different things," said Jackson with a shrug.I nodded. "Guess it just wasn't something I thought worth all that much… until it suddenly was worth a lot. Guess Erika just schooled me without even trying."Jackson chuckled at that. "Erika did that? Huh," he said thoughtfully.I nodded and went on with the rest of my day.When it reached the end of the day. I had another short meeting with the trainers and announced that I would be scaling back the Gym's hours going forward. Everyone slumped in relief at this, which helped me know how tough things had been on the ground, so to speak."Doesn't this mean we're going to be extending the surge a bit?" asked Dennis carefully.I shrugged. "There are more important things in life than just running pokemon battles all day. I think I need to make some more time in my life for those things."Dennis nodded and Rocko gave me a thumbs up. Alexa smiled and didn't say anything more, just wrote a note while Rachel wrote up an announcement for the pokenet page of the Gym.I clapped my hands. "Alright crew, another few days, then we're on lighter duties for the weekend. Then the sale at the start of next week before I send a few of you off to catch a thankfully short list of pokemon. Jackson, you'll be working with Missy, Rachel and our new Gym trainer," I nodded to Greta who smiled from next to Crystal. "Otherwise, enjoy yourselves, and I'll see some of you tomorrow."By the end of the week, everyone was happy to see the break.When I got home on Friday night with the knowledge that I didn't need to be up and battling for Saturday thanks to blocking it off earlier at the start of the surge. I sank into the couch with a groan of delight.Munchlax approached me with a slice of pizza that my family had already ordered. I accepted it with a smile only to frown at the large bite that had already been taken from it."Hey!" I said as he scrambled away.I chased him into the kitchen and caught him up to tickle him before depositing him in a chair and claiming my own.Flint nodded at me before raising up the kitchen transceiver. "We were about to call Forrest to see how he's been?"I smiled. "Yeah, I think I'd like to know how he's been, let's call."Forrest answered a moment later and his face came into vision. "Hey family! You will not believe the week I've had!"I chuckled, having something of an idea, he was after all with Ash and Misty."We rescued a Charmander! Oh! Also!" he bounced on the spot, "I have a new pokemon! Can you believe it?!"I choked on my pizza slice. How the hell had he done that?! Did he just accidentally take Ash's Charmander? I really wasn't sure what to think of that."That… sounds like a story. Care to share?" I asked. I really had to hear how this had gone down.