Ash and Misty followed Brock to his place, it was a decent two storeyed house with a large training field and an outhouse for the larger Pokemon like Onix to stay in. Brock's siblings welcomed them warmly, especially after Cindy told them of her adventure and how she met her Paras. Ash smiled as he releases the rest of his Pokemon followed by Misty, they greeted the family who invited them to dinner.
Sophie, "Ah! I knew you were familiar for a reason!"
Forest, "What do you mean sis?"
Sophie, "You are the winner of the Viridian city contest, aren't you Ash?"
Ash smiled taking out his ribbon, "Why yes, yes I am. I'm surprised you recognized me."
Brock, "That's impressive! I watched it too, your Pokemon are well cared for."
Ash, "Thank you! And caring for them is the least I could do after all the hard work they did."
Brock nodded, "Say I noticed you both carrying Caterpie, you have not caught it yet?"
Misty, "Six pokeball rule!"
Brock, "Ah! You only have one ribbon."
Ash nodded and Brock got started in preparing dinner for everyone, Ash offered to help but was declined by Brock. So instead he decided to ask the younger siblings what their favourite dessert was. Some answered cookies, others answered cake so they decided to make two groups, one to make cookies another to make cakes. Ash knew a very simple recipe to make Oran Berry mini cakes that everyone could enjoy, even the Pokemon, while Misty knew her mother's mixed nut and chocolate chip cookie recipe by heart. They got to work making Brock sigh at their stubbornness.
Ash, "We can't let you do all the work Brock!"
Misty nodded, "He's right, that would be unfair."
Brock, "Fine fine! I'll admit I'm curious about your food. Cindy told me you shared food, you made with her and it was very delicious."
Misty blushed, "I'm happy she liked it."
Ash, "Sure, we'll make enough for everyone."
Brock, "When do you plan on challenging the gym?"
Misty thanked Poliwag for bringing a bowl, "Booked mine for after two days, we need to get a few moves down first."
Ash grinned taking a bowl Pikachu gave him, "Thanks buddy, I booked my challenge for three days after, Misty's match at the centre."
Brock, "You used the online page at the centre? Not everyone uses that, they just come directly to the gym and book a challenge here."
Ash, "I feel it more convenient to schedule a match that way unless there is an emergency."
Misty, "Ugh tell me about it, we had a few trainers fight each other before at Cerulean gym and my sister was so pissed they ruined one of the aquariums. Violet is not into battling or Pokemon much but boy was her OCD triggered when she saw what happened to the aquarium. Now challengers must schedule their challenges at the centre not the Cerulean gym."
Brock, "Yeah I heard about that, isn't she the one who turns away challengers if the other sisters are not there?"
Misty, "Yep, if they insist, she takes out our cerulean candy and gives it to them."
Lucario hummed as he passed the buttered baking tray to Ash, "I remember it was last year, wasn't it? The scandal where some of the trainers tried to accuse your sisters of giving away counterfeit badges?"
Misty grinned placing Caterpie on her head as she placed the cookies inside the oven, "Yeah, like seriously, did they really think they'll get a badge without a battle?"
Brock, "The fact they never bother to schedule a match for cerulean gym was very telling."
Ash placed the mini cakes to bake and worked on the frosting, "Didn't they get suspended? For a few years?"
Brock, "They did, dinners almost ready!"
Misty sniffed the air, "Dessert too, just a few more minutes."
Ash finished making the frosting before he took out the baked mini cakes and started to pipe the the frosting on them once they had cooled down a bit. Lucario and Pikachu put different berries and cut fruit on top and set the little cakes aside to go and have dinner with the others. They had decided to set the table outside as the dining room was a bit small for all of them. The Pokemon enjoyed the food and sang praises of Brock's cooking, which made Brock proud when Ash translated them. The two trainers returned to the centre after having deserts which was enjoyed by everyone. Brock even asked Ash for the recipe which Ash agreed to write down and share with him the next morning.
Ash woke early next morning to talk to his Pokemon, "Alright then, guys we have to prep for a three on three match. Lucario and Pikachu performed at the contest, so I was hoping someone else would be interested in battling the gym. Pewter is a rock type gym so our opponents will be rock types and maybe a few ground types."
Fearrow moved forward, followed by Feebas and Mankey. Ash explained since Brock no doubt saw his performance at the contest, he will not go easy on them. So expect to train hard, Ash started off by instructing Fearrow to master the Steel wing he had been learning from Pidgeot and Mankey to master Iron tail that he and Pikachu had been learning. Ash asked Pikachu to help Caterpie train after he trained with Lucario and himself on speed and endurance. He then turned to Feebas and explained, she'll be the second Pokemon he will choose to battle after either Fearrow or Mankey and that as a water type she had more advantage than the others. The fish Pokemon got determined to train hard and master hydro pump that she was learning from Misty's Pokemon, by the time the gym battle came. They trained hard for two days before taking a break and going to cheer Misty on her battle. By the end of the training, Caterpie had evolved into a Metapod getting congratulations from everyone.
Forest, "This is an official gym battle between challenger Misty from Cerulean city and Brock the Pewter gym leader. Challengers please choose your Pokemon."
Brock, "Let's go Geodude!"
Misty, "Misty calls Staryu!"
Forest, "Let the battle begin!"
Brock, "Geodude defence curl!"
Misty, "Water gun, Staryu, get him wet!"
Geodude endured the attacks and thanks to the defense curl had a lower damage.
Brock, "Geodude rock throw!"
Misty smirked, "Staryu thunderbolt!"
Brock, "What? Oh no! Geodude dodge it!"
Geodude tried to move but was still hit by thunderbolt and was paralyzed where he was.
Misty, "Tackle Staryu!"
The starfish Pokemon tackled her opponent from the field knocking him out.
Forest, "Geodude is unable to battle, Misty wins the first match. Gym leader please choose your next Pokemon."
Brock, "Not bad, Misty, as expected from someone aiming to become a gym leader. Now, let's go Marowak!"
Misty, "Staryu return, thank you for the win!"
Startyu nodded and stood near her instead of returning to the pokeball, she wanted to watch the next match making Misty smile at the support.
Misty, "Let's go Starmie."
Forest, "Let the second battle begin."
Brock, "Marowak, boomerang!"
Misty, "Reflect!"
The boomerang hit the reflect and flew back to Marowak who looked at her opponent with narrowed eyes.
Brock, "Marowak, stone edge!"
Misty, "Counter with water gun."
The two attacks collided with each other creating a muddy field making Marowak annoyed and jump on top of one of the rocks.
Misty, "Ice beam!"
Brock, "Dodge it! Go in for skull bash!"
Misty, "Starmie be ready to dodge, wait I know, get ready Starmie."
As Marowak got closer Misty shouted, "Hyper beam point blank range!"
The hyperbeam hit the skull Pokemon face first making her fall backwards, but she got up anyway wanting to fight more.
Brock, "Are you okay, Marowak?"
Marowak nodded getting up.
Brock, "Focus energy, pound!"
Misty, "Starmie, thunderbolt!"
As Marowak moved to attack she was hit with a thunderbolt that knocked her out.
Forest, "Marowak is unable to battle, challenger Misty is the winner!"
Misty, "We did it! We did it! You guys were amazing."
Brock, "Very impressive Misty, I didn't expect you to teach your Pokemon those attacks at all. As proof of your victory I present to you your boulder badge and a prize money of 1000 pokedollars!"
Misty smiled, "Thanks Brock. We did it everyone!"
Ash, "Congratulations Misty!"
Cindy, "Congratulations, that was pretty cool."
Brock, "Shall we return to the centre?"
Misty, "Thanks guys and yes!"
The group left together to go to the centre unknown to the fact they were being watched by the trio. The three had followed them from the forest to the centre and the gym, when Jessie had an idea.
Jessie, "I got it!"
James, "Got what Jess?"
Jessie, "After the kid's gym battle tomorrow you two follow him. I'm going to challenge the gym."
James looked at her partner gobsmacked, "What? Why? I thought you were into contest more."
Meowth thought about some of the ribbons Jessie had won, "Yeah Jess? Why the suden intrest?"
Jessie, "One, I just want to try. Two, I am hoping by entering, I will be able to tag along with them in some of the tournaments."
Meowth, "Is tat necesary?"
James, "Yeah, Jess sounds a bit extra!"
Jessie, "Well, what else do we have to do besides watching over him like bodyguards? I tell you nothing!"
Meowth, "She's not wrong about tat, fine! As long as he don't suspect a thing or ta boss will have ur heads."
Jessie, "It'll be fine."
While Jessie went to the gym to schedule a match after Ash's match which she noticed was in the morning. She rejoined the other two soon and informed them what she noticed in the gym battle schedules.
Meowth, "Dis might jus work. K Jess, you do wat you got to."
Jessie fist pumped, "I will, and if everything goes well, I'll become one of the best trainers in the league."
Meowth gave her a smile, her excitement being contagious, even James was giddy, he was probably thinking how this will make the mission less boring. While the trio made plans to tackle the gym, Ash and the group were walking to the Pokemon centre. Misty was explaining how Ash's Pikachu had helped her Starmie and Staryu learn the electric attack, and thought up the strategy for combining it with water gun. To say Brock was impress was an understatement, of course his cool image went down the drain when he started to flirt with Nurse Joy. Ash noticed Misty started to get tick marks and would have done something if Zubat had not come out and paralysed him. Lucario snorted while Pikachu and Metapod giggled at the funny picture, Zubat was flying feeling proud of herself.
Ash, "Pffffffffffft, maybe you should chill on your flirting Brocko. Your Pokemon don't like it."
Brock, "Ye... yeah! Ma.... Maybe I sh... should!"
Misty snickered with Cindy behind her, before giving Nurse Joy the Pokemon for a thorough check up. Nurse Joy smiled and said she'll be back in a minute, Misty was still pumped and took out the badge case Daisy had sent. It had only one badge but she was feeling more confident in herself than before, maybe soon she could handle a Gyarados. Ash smiled at her, he knew the feeling of getting their first official win, it felt like the start of something special, new and amazing.
Nurse Joy returned after a while, "Cindy and Ash, your Pokemon are just fine. Misty, your Pokemon are all little exhausted but nothing some good food and sleep won't fix. Brock your Pokemon have been healed but like Misty's need rest and food."
Ash, "That's great thanks Nurse Joy!"
Cindy hugged Paras, "Thank you Nurse Joy!"
Misty, "Awesome! Thanks Nurse Joy!"
Brock, "Oh Nurse Joy, you bring the best news that fills my heart with hap.... gurk!"
Ash and the others laughed as Zubat bit Brock again saying 'Told you so'. The group separated after a while, Ash decided to explore the city with his Pokemon, while Misty decided to call Daisy. She had decided to send Staryu back to the gym for a nice long rest and finally catch her Caterpie. The Pokemon had said their farewells to each other before Staryu was sent back, and Misty promised to rotate them when they reached the next city. Brock and Cindy returned to the gym and home respectively, Brock still had to man the gym and Cindy had homework to catch up on. Ash walked around with Lucario, Pikachu and Metapod and saw the Pewter city museum and decided to check it out.
Ash, "This place is amazing, look guys, these are the exoskeleton of extinct Pokemon."
Pikachu was honestly a little weirded out, "Pi pika pikachu, Pikapi?" (Is this a human thing Ash?)
Ash who had started to understand Pikachu, "Well some humans are fascinated with how things were in the past, so yeah you could say it's a human thing."
Lucario, -It's not wise to hold on to the past, but I can understand trying to learn from it. Is that an Aerodaytl?-
Ash, "Yeah, it is, truly magnificent, isn't it?"
Lucario hummed, -Peculiar habit but not bad. I'll admit it's fascinating.-
Ash, "Hey look fossilized Omanyte shells. Misty would love to check these out."
They looked through everything in the museum, Ash remembered the year Red had gone on his journey, the museum had closed down for a month. The school had a tour planned but had to change it and go to the aquariums in Cerulean city, not that it was a bad thing but he couldn't help but wonder if the game events had occurred that month. At one point he thought he saw three very familiar people at the museum but, he didn't go after them, as he had promised himself and his Pokemon a relaxing day before the battle. They returned to the centre late in the evening after checking out the local market, after the battle, he had planned on going shopping again and preparing food for the journey.