The next morning. Sunlight fell across the stone steps of the Pewter City Gym.
Ash arrived at the gym entrance once more, Pikachu at his side.
Brock was seated in his usual place on the platform. When he saw Ash return, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "You actually came back? Didn't you just lose pretty badly yesterday?"
Ash lifted his chin and clenched his fists. "This time I'm going to win. For the badge, and for Pikachu!"
The live chat filled with anticipation.
[Can he really pull it off? Feels like one night of training shouldn't be enough, right?]
[Hard to say. Pikachu's eyes look totally different now, full of killer intent... well, battle spirit.]
[Place your bets! Last call!]
Brock rose to his feet. "You've got guts. Then let's begin. Go, Geodude!"
A peculiar rock creature with fists and arms appeared on the field.
Ash stepped forward just as boldly. "Pidgeotto, let's go!"
Pidgeotto swooped out, its wings whipping up a gust of wind.
"Pidgeotto, use Tackle!"
Pidgeotto shot toward Geodude like a cannonball.
Brock's expression remained blank. "Geodude, use Rollout."
Geodude curled into a ball and barreled forward like a giant bowling ball, slamming straight into the diving Pidgeotto.
There was a loud crack. Pidgeotto took the full impact of the hardened Geodude, let out a cry, and was sent flying. It struggled on the ground for a moment, then lost the ability to battle.
The audience let out a collective sigh. Analysis flooded the chat.
[Is Flying weak against Rock too? Or is Pidgeotto just too fragile?]
[I think it's the Rock-type's ridiculous defense. A bird slamming into a rock is just asking for it. Ash's tactics aren't working here.]
[First turn and Ash is already down one Pokemon. Only Pikachu left. The pressure is real.]
Ash bit his lip. "Come back and rest, Pidgeotto. Pikachu, it's all up to you!"
Pikachu leaped onto the field, sparks crackling across its body, noticeably stronger than the day before.
Brock narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Looks like you've improved a little. Even so, type matchups don't lie. Geodude, keep attacking!"
"Pikachu, dodge, then use Thunderbolt!"
It was the first time Pikachu had ever used this move.
"Pika..."
Pikachu leaped nimbly over the rolling Geodude, twisted in midair, and the electric pouches on its cheeks erupted in a blinding flash of gold.
"CHUUU!!!"
A thick bolt of golden lightning surged forward like a dragon breaking free from the sea and struck Geodude dead-on.
The impact was thunderous. Geodude didn't even have time to cry out. It was charred black by the sheer force of the electricity, smoke rising from its body as it toppled stiffly to the ground. A one-hit knockout.
The stream went absolutely wild.
[Holy crap! Thunderbolt! That move name is LEGENDARY! He finally learned the signature move!]
[Quality leap after charging up! This is so much stronger than before! The damage is insane!]
[Geodude literally got electrocuted black, hahaha! So satisfying!]
[The damage output is BROKEN!]
[Brock's expression changed. He's rattled. Didn't expect Pikachu to get this strong, did he?]
[But what happened to type disadvantage? What's going on?]
Brock looked at the fallen Geodude and adjusted his glasses. "Impressive. Looks like you trained hard last night. But now it's time for my ace. Go, Onix!"
A deep rumbling shook the gym. The familiar Onix made its entrance, its massive frame blotting out the light and bearing down on everything with crushing pressure.
"Onix, use Wrap!"
Onix's tail lashed out, coiling toward Pikachu just as it had before.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu released another surge of electricity, but Onix was simply too enormous, and rock insulated against the current. Though it shuddered from the shock, it tightened its grip around Pikachu and held on.
With things looking desperate again, something unexpected happened.
The stray electricity ricocheted through the gym, struck a device mounted on the ceiling, and triggered a sharp alarm that pierced the air.
"What's happening? Is there a fire?" Ash spun around in a panic.
A moment later, the gym's sprinkler system activated.
Water cascaded down in sheets, drenching the entire arena in seconds. Onix was soaked through, water streaming down its rocky surface, and a grimace spread across its face. Its hold on Pikachu visibly loosened.
In that instant, Ash looked at the dripping Onix and his eyes lit up. "Now! Thunderbolt, full power!"
Pikachu drew a deep breath and unleashed every last bit of electricity in its body all at once.
"PIKAAACHUUUU!!!"
Golden lightning tore through the water pooling on the floor and coursed through every inch of Onix's body at once.
The crackling roar was deafening. Water conducting electricity proved devastating. Onix let out an agonized wail, convulsing violently, and its enormous body crashed to the ground, splashing water in all directions. Its eyes went blank and spiraled, completely out of the fight.
The battle was over.
Just as Ash was about to cheer, the gym doors burst open. A group of children came rushing in. It was Brock's younger siblings. The eldest brother spotted the fallen Onix, sprinted forward, and planted himself in front of Ash, shouting, "Stop hurting Onix!"
"Big brother, what happened to your Onix?!"
Ash looked at the children, frantic and on the verge of tears, then looked back at Onix lying motionless on the ground. The excitement that had been surging through him went cold.
He looked at Brock and was quiet for a moment.
"I'm forfeiting," Ash said. "I only won because of an accident. That doesn't count as real skill."
The gym fell completely silent. Viewers watching from their screens were stunned, and the chat exploded.
[No way. He's giving up the win? I would've grabbed the badge and bolted!]
[He could've won and he chose to walk away. The character on this kid is something else. That's what a real trainer looks like.]
Ash recalled Pikachu and turned to leave.
"Wait."
Brock's voice came from behind him. Brock caught up, holding a gray badge in his hand.
"Ash, you won. This is the Boulder Badge. You've earned it."
Ash froze. "But I..."
Brock cut him off, something like relief settling into his expression. "What you feel for your Pokemon matters more than winning. In that moment, I saw what it really means to be a trainer."
He tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on some point beyond the gym walls. "I've always wanted to travel, to become a Pokemon Breeder. But I couldn't leave with no one to look after my brothers and sisters."
At that, a figure shifted in the shadow near the entrance. Flint stepped forward, removing his hat slowly to reveal a weathered but resolute face.
He looked at Brock, his voice barely steady. "Son, I'm sorry. I'm back."
Brock went rigid, staring at Flint in disbelief. "Dad...?"
Flint gave a single nod, stepped forward, and laid a firm hand on Brock's shoulder. "I'll take care of the gym and your brothers and sisters. I put you through too much, all these years. Go follow your dream. Go become the Breeder you were meant to be."
Brock's eyes filled with tears. Two streaks ran silently down his face.
The chat was flooded with emotion.
[Plot twist! That guy is his dad! I knew it! This storyline is something else!]
[He's finally free! Brock gets to live his life! No more babysitting!]
[This got me. Father and son reuniting. I'm actually tearing up.]
[Flint, secretly a hidden powerhouse all along, returns to claim his legacy (crossed out), returns to take care of the family.]
[Brock is joining the team! The main group is finally complete! Can't wait to see where this goes!]
Brock wiped his eyes and turned to face Ash, a wide smile breaking across his face. "Ash, can I travel with you?"
Ash reached out his hand without a second's hesitation. "Of course. Let's go."
Misty walked over, grinning. "Finally, someone dependable. Maybe now I won't keep getting lost following this blockhead around."
"Hey! Who are you calling a blockhead?!"
The three of them laughed. In the glow of the setting sun, three figures walked side by side down the road, Pikachu, Butterfree, and Brock's loaded pack trailing behind them.
Ash pointed toward the horizon, brimming with energy. "Next stop, Vermilion Gym!"
"Pika pika!"
Brock pushed up his glasses, his voice warm and steady. "I'll take care of everyone. Cooking, Pokemon care — you can leave it all to me."
The chat overflowed with well-wishes and anticipation.
[The main trio is officially assembled! Ash, Misty, and Brock, the Iron Triangle!]
[No more two people stumbling around lost? Nope, sorry. Now all three of them stumble around lost together.]
[Can't wait for the next gym! What's it going to be like...]
[This show is genuinely good. The pacing is tight, the characters feel real. I'm hooked. I'm staying for the long haul.]
[Author, please update faster! When does Episode 6 come out?! I need to see what happens next!]
Dan the Demon King watched the screen fade to black, let out a long breath, and sank back in his chair.
"That episode was pretty good too. Though it felt like something was missing. Maybe my expectations got too high after the earlier ones."
He glanced at the frenzied fans in the chat demanding more updates, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Patience. Good things take time. Let's wait for Episode 6."
Meanwhile.
Another world entirely.
Inside Yancy's stream.
With a familiar shimmer of teleportation light, Yancy's figure reappeared on the transport platform at the Rescue Guild. This time, however, the small Larvesta was gone. In its place stood a Volcarona, enormous and radiant, its wings spreading wide and scattering embers of light as they opened.
"Finally back," Yancy exhaled with relief.
She had just fought through the Lava Gear Labyrinth, and her HP bar was down to half red. But looking at the flood of experience notifications and the overflowing haul of loot packed into her bag, she was in an excellent mood.
Dragonair floated just behind her, its long body drifting through the air with unhurried grace, eyes half-lidded as though lost in a quiet doze. Wartortle, on the other hand, looked genuinely worn out.
Still, it was clear that after that battle, the three of them were sharper together, their coordination and combined strength another level above what it had been.
Yancy opened her inventory with a thought.
The contents were a jumbled mess. She began patiently sorting through the stack of rare materials that had dropped in the labyrinth.
Hard stones, yellow shards, a few special Big Oran Berries. These things looked unremarkable at a glance, but every one of them came in handy at the right moment. Especially those Oran Berries. Without them restoring HP on the way through, she probably wouldn't have made it out.
As she sorted, her eyes were drawn to a few oddly shaped fragments tucked in the corner of her bag, each glowing with a faint, feeble light.
"Unidentified Ancient Shards."
"These don't look like ordinary crafting materials," she murmured to herself.
She would head over to the Appraisal Shop and get to the bottom of these. Who knew, they might turn out to be something special.
[Appraisal time! Rolling for a legendary item!]
[If these turn out to be plain Oran Berries I will eat my screen.]
[With her luck, she dropped a max-star Big Oran Berry earlier. I'm calling it, she's good.]
[Don't jinx it. What if it's just more Hard Stones? lol]
After a quick word to her party members, Yancy took off on her own, flying toward the Appraisal Shop.
Volcarona was enormous now, but it flew with a surprising weightlessness, and the feeling of gliding through the air left her slightly giddy.
Passing over the plaza, she dipped a little lower on purpose, curious to catch whatever the nearby NPCs might be talking about. She had just evolved into this stunning new form, after all, and wanting to show off a little was only human.
But at that moment, a seasoned veteran NPC, a Delphox, suddenly stepped into her path. The Delphox had been napping against a pillar, but the moment Yancy flew overhead, its nose twitched. The drowsy ease vanished from its face instantly.
It straightened up sharply, its tail, which had been curled loosely, snapped upright, and it asked in a low, careful voice: "Hold on, kid. Why do you smell like herbs and forest? That scent..."
[An NPC that can smell things? That's incredible attention to detail!]
[The forest smell must be leftover from Grovyle's moves, right?]
[The old-timer caught her.]
The Delphox's eyes sharpened, locking onto Yancy. "Did you run into that creature out there?"
Yancy paused, then gave an honest nod, as good as a confirmation.
She had no reason to hide it. The NPC clearly knew something about Grovyle, and if there was information to be had, that was a good thing.
What she did not expect was that she had apparently poked a hornet's nest. The NPCs lounging nearby, an Onix, an Oddish, a handful of Wigglytuffs, converged on her from every direction. They erupted into a chorus of grievances about Grovyle's misdeeds:
"You're actually alive?" The Oddish was trembling so hard its leaves were shaking. "That Grovyle is an absolute menace. Last time it stole my key item and I nearly died in the labyrinth!"
"It also sabotaged a labyrinth entrance and left me trapped inside for three days and three nights!" The Onix was furious, hammering the ground with its tail segments. "Completely unhinged!"
"Apparently it goes out of its way to ambush beginner teams for no reason whatsoever," another Wigglytuff chimed in, covering its mouth in horror. "So many new rescue teams have been driven to tears by it. They're scared to take missions now."
In the telling of those gathered around her, Grovyle was an irredeemable villain, someone every decent person would want brought to justice.
The NPCs stared at Yancy with eyes full of pity, certain that being targeted by such a menace could only end badly. Some had already started whispering among themselves about whether to organize a search party to recover Yancy's remains.
Watching the crowd react as though a catastrophe had already befallen her, Yancy finally spoke up.
"Well, I did run into it. But I already drove it off."
The words landed.
For a few seconds the entire plaza went completely still. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Then came an eruption of gasps.