Kanto - Celadon City

As the breeder's were collecting the items for the second round, the judges were talking among themselves. They were honestly impressed by the latest batch of breeders taking part in the contest this time. There were a few temperamental Pokemon among the chosen Pokemon who were picked for the first round for a reason. It was to test the human's patience in handling the more rowdy Pokemon who don't trust anyone but their chosen trainers.

Stella, "Alright, dear contestant breeders, times up, to your work stations which have been set up on your left. Nurse Joy will explain the rules."

Nurse Joy, "The rules are very simple, the pokefood you make must taste good, be healthy and must not have any harmful elements in it. But most importantly the Pokemon must enjoy your Pokefood, the more Pokemon like your food, the higher the chances of you all going to the third round."

Stella, "There you have it folks! This time it will be the Pokemon who will judge you! And your time starts now! Now let's see what our judges have to say about the competition so far."

Helia smiled looking at the determined faces, "They are very pumped up and passionate about this."

Abbey, "I'm not surprised about that, Helia. In fact, I'm very impressed by how some of them took care of the more rowdy and powerful Pokemon."

Nurse Joy, "You mean the Pokemon belonging to the Elites and Rangers? Yes, I know what you mean, contestant number 2, 6, 10 and 20 did exceptionally, didn't they?"

Stella gasped, "Some of the Pokemon belonged to Rangers and the Elite trainers? Oh my sweet Mew!"

Abbey gave her an understanding smile, "I'll be honest, I was against having such high level Pokemon here because it is a contest but I guess, it was not as bad as I feared."

Helia nodded, "They performed really well and handled Charizard, Houndoom, Magmar and Serperior with a lot of consideration for how they felt and reacted, at strangers handling them. Either they have those temperamental pokemon themselves or have handled them before."

Stella who calmed down, "Let's see what our dear Gym Leader Erika has to say?"

Erika sighed before smiling, "Just like Dr Abbey, I was honestly against the high level Pokemon being used in a contest. I was worried what if something went wrong and the Pokemon got angry. But nothing untoward happened, this shows that this new batch of breeders are exceptionally talented and capable of handling Pokemon with love and care."

Stella, "High praise from the Leader herself, let's go see how the food is coming along."

The camera went from one contestant to another showing different types of Pokefood being made. Some used a single berry to make different types of Pokefood from pokeblocks to pokepuffs to pokemuffins and pokecurry. While others used a mixture of different berries and vegetables mostly three to four ingredients like Brock to make the food. Pikachu and the others Pokemon cheering from the stands drooled seeing the tomatoes being used to make pokeblocks.

Ash pat the electric mouse's head, "Someone is looking forward to the food."

Pikachu cooed, "Pika pika pikachu."

Charmeleon rumbled as well, "Rrrrrrrrr."

Ritchie looked at Charizard who came out sniffing the air, "The food smells good huh bud? Do you want to join the tasting group."

Charizard nodded rumbling, "Zarrrrrr!"

Misty giggled looking at her Pokemon, "I think all of our Pokemon are excited."

Horace laughed, "I don't blame them, it does smell amazing."

Gou grinned, "Calm down guys, the food will be ready soon."

Stella, "Contestants you have twenty minutes left, make sure you start to finish your cooking."

Brock, "Ah! Almost dropped my tray!"

He's neighbour, "You okay?"

Brock started to take the curry off the fire, "Yeah! Just didn't realize the time was up, I'm Brock by the way."

The young girl smiled, "I'm Roxy!"

Stella, "Ten minutes, start plating up now if you have not yet."

Brock, "Good luck kid!"

Roxy smiled blushing, "Same to you Mister Brock. I'm fourteen."

Brock laughed, "I'm eighteen, so you are a kid to me."

Roxy huffed as she started to plate up, "It's just four years."

Stella, "Five minutes!"

Jessilina, "Looks like Brock has an admirer!"

Meowth, "H'w cn ya tell?"

Jameson, "That kid has been watching his movements from time to time and trying to mimic them."

Misty, "Well Brock is good at cooking. I'm not surprised, she's impressed."

Horace, "Yeah, I would probably do what she was doing too if someone next to me was no doubt good at what they are doing."

Stella, "10 seconds

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Time's up! Contestants step away from your work stations!"

Brock gave a sigh as he stepped away from his finished food, 'Hope it is enough!'

Stella, "Now everyone those who have Pokemon who are interested in eating please let them come to the stage where the food along with the number of the contestants are being set up. The more plates get empty, the more votes a contestant gets. There are a total of fourty eight dishes our eight contestants have made."

The Pokemon when they heard it rushed to the stage with the food and started chomping down on the dishes. Ash observed the different types of dishes that were Pokemon food and couldn't help but marvel at the number of variety. He is pretty sure half the food were from other regions making him wonder how many breeders were actually from outside Kanto. His Pokemon were enjoying the food, even Phantump was eating quite happily which was a first, as the little ghost type would barely touch the food made by others.

Ash, "Look guys Phantump's not being picky and eating what is made. Wonder who made that dish?"

Misty, "Ah! Dewpider and Corsula as well."

Gou, "I don't know which plates are who's or maybe they made that way to have an unbiased vote."

Horace, "Well our Pokemon aren't complaining."

Stella, "And looks like the Pokemon are not eating anymore. Now we are going to check how many plates and bowls have been emptied. The higher number of empty utensils, the higher your chances to enter the next round."

Ash and the others watched as two contestants were chosen followed by Brock making them sigh in relief, then a fourth contestant. Roxy was sulking a bit at not being chosen before she got up and cheered Brock on to win the competition for both their sakes. Brock laughed ruffling the bright girl's hair getting a squawk of indignant grumbling before she grinned and went to the back. Ash wondered how good these people were, he heard what the other judges said earlier, he was just too busy worrying about Brock to pay attention to the others.

Stella, "And with that our second round came to an end, next up is the last round which is the battle round. Let's see who is up against who."

The board shuffled and Brock was up against one Thomas Evans from Galar, while the other two breeders were facing each other. Brock had noticed Thomas was the guy who took care of the Houndoom, a very flighty and proud canine unlike Lucario who once they trusted you, it was for good. Thomas must have had the patience and calm of a saint to be able to get the work done without getting burned.

Stella, "Let's give it up for our contestants, will the first battlers step up to the arena please. Remember you need two Pokemon for battling, one for semi finals and the other for finals."

Brock and Thomas faced each other and shook hands as Stella continued, "Please choose your Pokemon."

Brock, "Let's go Golem!"

Golem, "Lem!"

Thomas, "Let's go Maganium."

Maganium, "Nium!"

Stella, "Begin!"

Thomas, "Maganium, Aromatherapy!"

Brock, "Golem roll away, don't let the aromatherapy get to you, use rock slide."

Golem rolled away from the wave of sweet smelling scent before using rock slide on the ground below Maganium.

Thomas, "Maganium move, quick."

Maganium moved from where he was standing only to have one of his front paws sink into the ground making him stuck.

Brock, "Now use fire punch!"

The fire punch hit Maganium and he was pushed back, but on the bright side Thomas amended, he was free. He winced seeing the bruise on Maganium's body from the fire type move.

Thomas, "Use sunny day!"

Brock, "Don't let him recover, use mega punch!"

As Maganium was recovering Golem hit him with another punch but the grass type was tough and did not go down easily.

Thomas, "Now solar beam!"

Brock, "Oh no! Quick Iron defense curl!"

Golem curled in before powering up his defense using Iron defense. Maganium shot the solar beam at Golem.

Brock, "Move to your left!"

Despite the heavy weight Golem still rolled over to the left missing the beam by mere seconds.

Brock, "Now, mega punch go for it!"

Golem got up and rushed towards Maganium with mega punch and hit him. Maganium fell to the ground fainting from exhaustion and the hit.

Stella, "And we have our first win, Golem and Brock are heading to the final rounds. Give it up for them."

Golem rushed to Brock giving him a bone crushing hug making him laugh, "Easy big guy, I am so proud of you."

Golem, "Lem~"

Stella, "Will the next two contestants please step up?"

Thomas approached Brock as he left, "Hello, Brock right?"

Brock smiled, "That's me, hello Thomas!"

Thomas, "That was a good battle, as expected from an ex gym leader. Next time however I will win against you."

Brock grinned, "I look forward to it. And thanks we trained hard to take care of the gym, don't see why we should stop now. You know?"

Thomas nodded, "I used to be a show case performer before becoming a breeder. I was just wondering.... "

Brock, "How I deal with it... Honestly it takes time, I could tell you to try out many acceptance exercises but the best thing you can do is be patient. You can't change how you feel, not really but you can definitely learn to like and adapt."

Thomas, "You are speaking from experience."

Brock, "As a gym leader I was always taking care of everything. When I started travelling I realized my companions do not require me to baby them, like I did with my siblings. It took time but I learned to relax and just do my best instead of trying to be perfect."

Thomas turned back to the match as it ended with one, Miss Aisha winning the match, "Do my best? I think I can do it."

Brock, "It takes time, I won't lie but I will tell you it is worth it. All the best things are worth our patience."

Thomas shook hands with the older man, "Thank you Brock! I'll see you around."

Stella, "Now for our final battle. Let's give it up for our two finalists. The winner will walk away with an exclusive contract that they can use anytime they want. Now choose your Pokemon. Release both your Pokemon in three, two, one!"

Aisha, "Let's go Medicham!"

Medicham, "Cham!"

Brock, "I choose Onix!"

Onix rumbled, "Nix!"

Stella, "Begin!"

Aisha, "Calm mind followed by mega punch!"

Brock, "Harden followed by iron tail."

The two Pokemon waited before attacking each other, a powerful iron tail against an equally strong mega punch. The two Pokemon separated before attacking again.

Brock, "Dig!"

Aisha, "Stay calm Medicham! Be prepared!"

The fighting psychic Pokemon took a deep breath and meditated trying to get a feel for where the ground type would attack from.

Brock, "Now bind!"

Onix came out with a roar and wrapped Medicham tightly getting a grunt of pain.

Aisha, "Medicham! Endure and force palm!"

Onix hissed as the force palm git him and she let go. Medicham was panting because of exhaustion, he was not used to prolonged battles.

Aisha took a deep breath, "Ice punch!"

Brock, "Earthquake!"

The earthquake attack shook Medicham out of his comfort zone and Onix used the chance to bury him into the battle field. Onix looked smug as Medicham was unable to move, the fighting type tried to move but his limbs were immobile.

Aisha, "Medicham, try to get out, use psychic."

Brock, "Onix!"

Onix nodded and she tightened the ground around the fighting type making him loose focus.

Stella, "And the ten seconds for a Pokemon to get up and continue fighting are over. As Medicham is unable to battle, Onix wins the match and competition."

The crowd cheered, Ash and his group the loudest as Brock and Onix were declared winners. Unlike other competitions breeder competition gave out contracts for jobs as prizes. The contract lasted for fifteen years at the most and five years at the minimum, once it was activated the breeder with the contract was bound by it to work unless something happened to break the rules in the contract. Ash and the others congratulated Brock and the other breeders congratulated him as well, Thomas got a promise for a rematch and Ash and Ritchie grinned as they teased him on having his first rival. Brock just laughed and took them to a restaurant to celebrate his first win in a competition, he would worry about the contract later.