Lunch with Brock

Pewter city

The next morning Aoki woke up and found that it was already 10 am. Same as always Aoki found Misty clinging to him in sleep. He planted a kiss on her forehead and went to the washroom to freshen himself.

Every hotel room they booked had a small kitchen attached to them so Aoki prepared a light breakfast for everyone.

Misty woke up after a while and ate breakfast complimenting Aoki for it.

Aoki turned on the TV which showed that yesterday night the Viridian City Pokemon Centre was attacked by 2 members of Team Rocket who escaped with a Mewoth-shaped Hot air Balloon.

Although they didn't manage to steal any Pokemon, they stole some money and medicines from the Pokemon Centre.

Next, they showed a picture of a boy with a Pikachu who helped in repelling the Team Rocket member.

'Isn't that Ash? So he exists after all.'

" Are these people idiots ?, how can someone be so foolish as to attack a Pokemon Center?! " Misty exclaimed.

"Seems like they were experienced thieves since they managed to steal something after all. But it seems someone discovered them or else they would have escaped without causing too much commotion. ".

"That seems a good conclusion. Well, at least none lost their Pokemon "

After some more discussion, they left their hotel for their destination. Aoki rented a rock field to train his Pokemon while Misty rented a pool for training.

In each city, there are multiple places that could be used for training Pokemon. Some required reservations while most of them were open to all.

They trained their Pokemon till the afternoon and reunited at the hotel for a change of clothes.

From there, Aoki and Misty started traveling toward Brock's home. His house was located a little far away from the main city so they had to take a taxi.

They reached a place that was peaceful and away from the noisy main city. This place had mainly two to three-story houses and no more than that.

Aoki and Misty reached his house and knocked. After a minute a mature woman with brown hair opened the door.

"Ara ~You must be Brock's friends, please come inside "

" Thank you for having us "

In the house, he met 9 children who were playing with two Geodudes and a Marill. Most of them almost looked like Brock.

Aoki knew that Brock had a lot of siblings so he brought a lot of chocolates for everyone making the children happy.

'Staying in shape even after giving birth to 10 children, Brock's mom is truly commendable .'

The children dragged Misty to play with them while Brock's mother provided Aoki with tea.

After 5 minutes Brock entered the room along with a big green Pokemon holding food plates.

Aoki recognized that Pokemon, it was Ludicolo, a pokemon from the Hoen region.

" Misty do you know this Pokemon ? " asked Aoki

" No, I have never seen this Pokemon, "

" This is Ludicolo, it is water and grass type "

Misty, hearing that Ludicolo was a water type, could not control herself and filled Brock's mother with various questions. She got to know that Brock's mother Lola was once a water-type trainer before getting married.

Her Ludicolo is the final evolution of her Lotad that she caught in the Hoen region.

" Do you know Pokemons of other regions too ? " asked Brock's Mom.

"Yes, I have studied a lot of Pokemons even in other regions. " Aoki. He after spending an entire month with Misty knew that studying was her worst enemy. She sometimes even failed to identify common pokemon so not recognizing Ludicolo was obvious.

She must have gotten away with skipping classes because of her status.

Brock's dishes tasted very good so Aoki decided to ask for the recipe later on. While discussing various things with Brock, the talk about their real dreams came out.

" I want to start my journey to fulfill my dream of becoming a pokemon breeder and groomer but my useless father left the responsibility of the gym to me.

I am not suited to be a gym leader so I am helping Forrest to take my position as a gym leader . " said Brock.

Forrest was the boy that acted as a referee in Aoki's match.

Apparently, Brock's father went to do something and didn't return for seven years. How did he know that he didn't just die? Because his mother assured him that along with some letters he received.

"Don't talk like that about your father Brock, he is fulfilling his dreams "

"I tell him to follow his dreams but he is taking the gym duty too seriously ." said his Mom.

" You should follow your dreams Brock, I am pretty sure Mrs. Lola can also take care of the gym for you . " said Aoki

Lola is a good trainer and can handle the gym on her own but Brock doesn't want her mother to take the difficult task.

Apparently, Brock was pretty stressed out among his gym duties and studies. Similar to gym battles of Trainers, aspiring groomers had to take exams to get qualifications.

After being convincing by his Mother and siblings Brock decided to let her handle the gym. For getting the Groomer license, Brock had to travel but he could not leave due to his responsibilities.

When they talked more about Brock, his dream of being harem king and having a big family came up which his mother knew.

"Ara~ I wonder who he got that trait from, his father was not like that" Brock's mom said.

Aoki and Misty looked at all children playing and thought the same thing ' He got that from you !!"

Aoki had a long talk with Brock among Pokemon.

Brock corrected some of the massage techniques that he was doing wrong. The most important thing Aoki learned was making Pokeblock, which was Pokemon food made whose main ingredient was berries.

Although the process of making Pokeblock was difficult, the end product was worth it as it could provide a lot of energy in emergencies. The process contained various steps like mixing juices in specific quantities, choosing the proper combo, removing impurities, maintaining freshness, etc which must be done by hand.

The last process was using a Pokeblock machine to compress it into poke blocks.

They exchanged recipes and ideas about Pokemon food. Overall the trip was very enjoyable for Aoki.

Aoki got to see more rock Pokemon in their backyard like the Onix that Charmander fought, a master level Rhydon, an intermediate level Rhyhorn, a master level Gravellar, a Sudowoodo, a Nosepas, and finally an elite level Golem.

It was Aoki's first time seeing an elite-level Pokemon. Although the Golem was sleeping, he had their frightening aura around him.

'As expected, a person would not become a gym leader. They need an elite Pokemon after all.'

Aoki also saw some water Pokemons that Brock's mother owned like a Golduck, a Starmie, a Slowpoke, and a Polywrath. Almost all of them were at the intermediate stage except Poliwrath who was at master rank.

While Aoki was alone in Brock's backyard, Lola came to him and said something in his ears.

"Since you are Brock's friends, let me share a secret with you.

My husband has already returned to the Pewter city but is hesitant to face Brock. He has been in contact with me the entire time so I knew what was happening.

Now that Brock has made the decision to leave, he would be coming back to do his duty."

"Can you tell me about his dream if you don't mind? " Aoki asked.

"Sure I don't mind. His dream was to travel the world and collect all sorts of rock Pokemons.

After traveling the entire Kanto region, he went to Hoen where we met and got married. He left the house five years ago to travel across Jhoto, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos.

Now that his dream is fulfilled, he will take his duties seriously"

"Don't you want to travel to? " Aoki asked.

"No, I never liked traveling much. I always wanted to have a big family and spend my life with them which I am doing.

I am very satisfied with my life

Moreover, a responsible child-like Brock who all his siblings look up to is a marvelous blessing to me "

She looked at her watch.

"Ara~ it's already time for dinner, let's go inside. You two can stay the night if you want. Brock rarely brings friends home"

"Thanks for the offer but we have to refuse, I already have some pending business to do"

"It's okay, be sure the spend a night when Brock is home "

Aoki and Misty returned from Brock's house in the night after having a nice dinner.

On the way, he brought some berries and a Pokeblock-making machine from the market.

Aoki had given his Pokemon vacation for the day and would begin intense training from tomorrow as he had to prepare for Mt. Moon.

Back at the Hotel:

" Ne Aoki, I thought of something, " said Misty lying on the hotel bed.

" Hmm ? "

" I am thinking of participating in the indigo league.

I told you about my dream of making Cerulean Gym famous and becoming an elite trainer right? , for that, I need to have recognition. So I am thinking of collecting badges and participating in the Pokemon league.

I used to think that if I could travel the region and collect strong Pokemons I can gain the recognition of my parents but I was so wrong."

" That's a wonderful decision. Let's start with Brock then "