When the morning rolled around and my alarm went off it took a moment to sit up and to parse what had happened and how things were going to change.

It would really only be small changes but it would still be meaningful. I got out of bed, ran through my morning routine, only to pause in front of the mirror.

I stared at myself. I had a sudden, incongruous feeling that I should be older. With wrinkles and crow's feet, with sleep bags from stress. Instead, a youthful face stared back at me through thin eyes.

Huh. I hadn’t had this feeling for a long, long time. Not since the early years when I’d just accepted that this wasn’t all some strange dream and that I was in fact a child once more.

I sighed and leaned my head against the cold mirror.

With everything that had happened, I suddenly felt old. Like only someone that was old could be this tired. I shut my eyes. I had a lot on my plate but that shouldn’t excuse the issue of letting my family not be my priority. Why had I…

I sighed. I’d taken a step back so that Flint could come in. I’d turned my attention to the Gym and Sabrina.

That… it didn’t seem to be wrong. I couldn’t fault it even with how things had played out. It was still awkward spending time with Flint and having him suddenly in so many roles that I was used to filling with the kids… it had me annoyed and frustrated. So I had stepped back and given him space.

It had honestly felt like a good thing. Like I could take a breath myself as I suddenly became able to have more time. Time for me and Sabrina to actually go out. Time to spend training with my pokemon. Time to just laze about.

Why was it that you could make all the right moves… and then still come up short?

Life was strange and sometimes even cruel like that. I huffed, Forrest wasn’t hurt… or Arceus forbid… worse… but he was in a less than ideal situation. Things had happened and then I would have to work with them. I couldn’t go back and change time.

…

I squinted and rubbed my chin… well wasn’t there that one movie… I shook my head. No! Don’t mess with time! That was how so many bad things happened! I tilted my head, well not more than I had already by existing at least.

I shook my head. These were the sort of thoughts that really didn’t lead anywhere. I couldn’t change things and I needed to move on.

I got changed and marched out of my room only to find Yolanda and Forrest waiting for me expectantly. “Laaaaaaaaaaar,” yawned Terra in a sleepy greeting.

I nodded to the little Larvitar before eying Yolanda and Forrest. “Morning you two. Forrest, I got Misty and Ash to agree to group up with you for traveling. They also know to watch out for anyone that might try and take advantage or put you in danger.”

I jerked my chin towards the reserve. “I think I’d like to set you up with one of the stronger pokemon though. Make sure you have something like an Ace up your sleeve if you need it.”

“Can I have Challenger?” Forrest said quickly. I paused and considered him.

“Challenger?” I said tilting my head. “I would have thought…”

“I’ve been working with her a fair bit and I think she suits me the most of the stronger pokemon.”

“Huh,” I said before nodding. “That’s not a bad choice.” I flicked my eyes to Yolanda. “So you were both waiting for me I take it?” I prompted.

Yolanda nodded. “There was a lot of secrets that were mentioned last night! You can bet your pokedollar I’ll be talking with dad later about Mum but you also were talking about something that you've mentioned a bit!” She pointed right at my face. “Dark energy and Rock Energy! What gives! Don’t try and dissuade me! I want to be a strong trainer!”

I hummed, amused at how serious she was being. I flicked my eyes to find Forrest just as interested and nodding along with Yolanda. “Hmmmm. Alright,” I said easily.

I jerked my head to the side. “Forrest will have it a bit rougher being on the road with this but he can still learn the foundation step. It takes the longest after all, but he has the requirements.” I glanced down at Terra in Yolanda’s arms. “You both do now.”

I led them out to the reserve and from there down to Titan’s cave. I pointedly didn’t use a torch or turn on any of the lights to walk through the darkness. I could literally feel Yolanda vibrating with excitement as we got closer to Titan’s area. I whistled as I approached, announcing us.

When we got there Titan yawned hugely only to blink when Yolanda and Forrest walked in. behind him, on his small stone alcove, Bertha waved disinterestedly. Titan hissed as Terra glanced at Bertha in confusion.

I could see the instant Titan realised that his little sister had come into ‘his house’ and caught him snuggling up to Bertha. His mind short-circuited as instincts clashed. He leaned back over his ‘bed’ and pushed Bertha off the edge, causing her to drop into a small gap and vanish from sight. There was a loud ‘whump’ as she hit the ground.

Terra tilted her head even further. “Tar?” she said, unsure what was going on.

“Rhhhhhhhhhh!” growled Bertha as she rose up from the other side of the rocky outcropping I could see her eyebrows twitching in annoyance. Titan glanced from her to Terra with an apologetic look only for Bertha to raise a fist and leap the divide.

I led my siblings and Terra back out to give them room.

Yolanda flinched when a loud impact echoed through the caves. “What happened?!” she said spooked. I blinked for a second, remembering that while Titan and I could see each other, everyone else had no idea what was going on. Bertha probably thought Titan was being weird, kicking her out of bed like he had. I reached over and switched on a set of lights.

It illuminated the room and revealed Titan being bonked on the head by Bertha who paused to stare at us. Terra waved and clapped her little hands before barking a question.

Bertha sniffed and stuck up her nose before bonking Titan on the head again much to Terra’s amusement. She then hastily marched out of his cave to get some more sleep.

Yolanda watched her go in amusement while Forrest tilted his head. “Can someone explain that to me?” he said plaintively.

I coughed. “Matters of gentlemanly behaviour and waking up surprised leading to poor life choices,” I said as though that explained anything.

Yolanda giggled, obviously a bit more aware of what had played out from the context, while Forrest just scratched his head. “Uhhhh sure?” he just said while Titan rubbed at his head sheepishly.

I coughed. “Sorry about that buddy but I need your help to teach something important to Yolanda and Forrest.” Titan tilted his head and I smiled. “They’re curious about aura,” I said causing him to blink in surprise. He turned and sniffed at them before rubbing his scaly chin in thought. Then he shot me a look before shrugging.

He then settled down into his meditation pose and snorted. With a gesture a trio of rocks rose from the ground and offered themselves up to my siblings and I. I hopped up onto them and turned back to Forrest and Yolanda.

“Sit down and get comfortable. Forrest you should release Onix and have him listen in to this as this is a partner exercise.”

Onix emerged with a loud yawn before squinting and looking around. When he spotted Titan he stiffened up only for Forrest to pat him comfortingly. “Hey buddy, we’re going to learn something new today. This is training that is going to take a while apparently.”

I chuckled. “Actually, if done right this training is something that you will be doing for the rest of your lives.”

“Huh?!” Forrest said as he and Onix blinked in surprise.

I raised a hand and coughed to indicate I wanted to speak freely. “The world we live in is one of wonder and excitement. With that comes a lot of potential. This can be good and bad, natural or even unnatural. One of the natural forces of our world is that of Aura. If you study anything with pokeball design or storage space design, there is a huge amount of technical understanding. At least, from what I’ve read on the subject. Those are the scientific and technological developments, however.”

I clenched my fist and suffused it with Rock energy. “The natural aspect of aura is that it is within us all. It helps us be stronger, faster, and more capable in a lot of different ways. It can also be attuned.” I swept my hand through the rock I was sitting on to slice through it without a hint of resistance.

“There are currently seventeen accepted and public pokemon types. I know there are actually at least eighteen. They are Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Flying, Rock, Ground, Bug, Ice, Dragon, Ghost, Fighting, Normal, Dark, Steel, Poison, and Fairy. All of these interact with each other in often conflicting or supportive roles depending on what you’re trying to achieve. What I want you to know though is that it is possible to use the aura that is part of all of us and attune it to one, or more of these types.”

“You’re Rock and Dark?” Yolanda said, looking from me to Titan with a thoughtful look. When I nodded she tilted her head. “It has something to do with your starter then?”

I made a so-so gesture with my hand. “Your starter pokemon will influence it or have a chance to. It depends. Technically, there is no reason you have to be limited to one or two. It is just a matter of the time it takes to develop these skills. I’ve only just started to get a good enough handle on Rock and Dark type and that was with years of working with Titan to feel out the energy that is always within him and trying to shift my own energy to match it.”

Forrest nodded slowly. “How do you do that?”

I smiled at him. “The first step is something I already taught you.”

Forrest tilted his head and frowned. Yolanda rubbed Terra’s head as she started to squirm about. I made a gesture and she handed Terra to me. Only for me to hand Terra over to Titan to with a smirk.

“The build up…” Forrest said steadily, like he was probing the path to make sure it wasn’t about to crumble underfoot. I nodded encouragingly and he straightened up. “The build up of attacks or pokemon moves. We have our pokemon keep building up the energy for certain moves and we… get used to it?”

I nodded again. “Correct!” I gestured to Onix and Forrest. “Rock Polish is an easy one to use for Rock typed moves. Dark Type have moves like Dark Pulse that can be held until they are discharged.” I looked to Titan. “The first step is making sure you can feel the energy.” I held up a hand. “Get used to it and then test yourself with other types of energy. I trialled my water types and fighting types and even normal types with feeling out the various energies.”

“Why other energy types?” Yolanda said as she watched Titan lift a claw and have Terra track it as he darted it back and forth.

I sighed. “I… didn’t work it out straight away but one of the ways to work out how far one energy type goes is to compare it to different energies. It allows you to determine the edges of where one type ends and another might begin or overlap.”

“Overlap?” Yolanda said, jumping on what I’d said.

I huffed. “Certain aura types will embody certain characteristics. Rock Type energy for example can make your strong and give you a strong defense against physical attacks but this is not unique to just Rock Types. Steel types might be the same. It can also impact your personality with such things as being more stoic, more stubborn.”

“What about dark type?” Yolanda said now watching me carefully.

“It can make you more vengeful or make you more able to see in the dark, something that’s very useful for a lot of spelunking. It also makes you immune to psychic types if you want.”

Forrest stiffened and shot me a glance. Ah, he would find that attractive wouldn't he? With the threat of Will announced to him?

“Is Will one of these aura users?” he said tightly

I hummed in consideration. “Yes, psychic energy is another aspect of aura remember?” I tapped my temple. “Some people are simply born more aware of their abilities. People born with Psychic talent might become aware of people’s thoughts, or feelings for instance. Grass types will be able to grow greater gardens or raise healthy families. Water types can heal from wounds or be amazing swimmers, Fire types can sometimes emit a burst of fire or be entirely immune to heat.” I tilted my head. “Those are some examples that I can think of, I’m a Rock-Dark type so there will be nuances to their types just as there are nuances with mine.”

Both Yolanda and Forrest considered this for a while before Forrest spoke up. “So… we just meditate with our pokemon to learn this? How come everyone isn’t a master at this?” scoffed Forrest.

“Cause…” Yolanda eyed Titan before looking back to me. “A lot of people don’t know it exists… and like you said, it took you years right Brock? So it can’t be easy…”

I nodded. “More the latter than the former but yes. This is not a short journey. Just sensing the energy is going to take you ages. My advice if you want to pursue this and have it available to you before you’re twenty or thirty years of age? Make a habit of doing it everyday for an hour. Or at least surrounding yourself with one type of energy with a few select pokemon.” I gestured around. “Rock was pretty easy for me. Some energy types will come more naturally to others, I’d suspect Rock might be yours due to being surrounded by it for so long but that doesn’t mean it has to be that way, it’s just that odds are your environment and the starter you have will influence your aura.”

Forrest and Yolanda nodded and turned to their starter pokemon. Titan handed Terra back to Yolanda. “I’ll show you how Titan and I practise.”

Titan huffed and shifted himself. I licked my lips in preparation. “Rock tail, dark head. Spines Rock!” I started to say hurriedly as Titan shifted the energy around himself. When I got it wrong—something that had started to take longer and longer these days— he stopped and wagged a finger at me. Then he restarted the game at a slower pace.

After ten minutes my mind hurt, as I shook of the strange flexing I had been forced to perform with testing so quickly. It wasn’t a new skill but it was still a difficult skill to train.

“That,” I said while rubbing my temples, “is something that took Titan and I roughly five years to get to.”

“Didn’t seem that hard?” Forrest said only for me to chuckle.

“I was trying to mirror him with the energy. So when I detected the energy and location I had to put the same type in the same spot on my body while saying it.”

Yolanda nodded thoughtfully as I turned to Forrest. “Take one of the evolution stones we have, and some of the Hard rock and soft sand that Flint might have. Those are examples of natural deposits of rock or earth that have types suffused through them. But again, you won’t get anywhere with this trying to sprint. It is slow and steady. Trade out the evolution stones occasionally.”

When Forest opened his mouth to protest I raised a hand. “I don’t want you taking more than one. You’re already a potential target being my brother. Giving you items worth a lot of money is just asking for more trouble.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

I sat back and rolled my shoulders. I chewed my lip as I considered if there was anything else that I needed to say to him. When something stood out I flicked my eyes between Yolanda and Forrest. I shot Yolanda a look that made her blink. “Oh! I think I might go help dad make breakfast!” she said suddenly. I shot her a thankful look as she bowed to Titan and then marched back off.

As she trudged off up the cave with her transceiver acting as her light, I turned to Forrest, now alone with me. “You… going to be alright out there?” I asked tentatively.

Forrest nodded. “I was ready for this ages ago honestly. I just didn’t want to go… I know all about camping out and wild pokemon and how to care for pokemon. I know a hundred and one things… Just surprised it’s finally here is all.”

“If you want I can still—” Forrest shook his head.

“What are we going to tell the rest of the family?”

I hummed. “The truth, that you’re going to go off on your journey and learn about the world and yourself.” Forrest snorted and I rolled my eyes. “Hey don’t mock me for that. Learning about the world is easy. Finding out who you are? Much tougher than you realise.” I flicked a rock at him.

“If you’re going to meditate for a while on aura and try to work it out don’t stop yourself from thinking about what you’ve done each day or are going to do. This circuit is going to be crazy Forrest. It’s going to be more important than usual to have a clear idea of where you are and where you want to be going.”

“You’re starting to sound like some cheap fortune cookie,” he said with a huff.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Please I’m giving you gold and here you are calling it cheap!” I shook my head before adopting a serious expression. “Misty and Ash might have agreed to travel with you for safety but they need it just as much as you do.”

“Misty will?” Forrest said perking up.

I rolled my eyes harder and flicked another rock at him as Titan chortled. “Yes,” I stressed out before shaking my head. “They might also need you to keep them going in the right direction. You were pretty good at that when we went trekking through nature. You’ll need it for them.”

At his raised eyebrow I waved my hand. “If it didn’t escape your notice it took them almost a month to make it here from Pallet. That is supposed to only take a week.”

Forrest tilted his head. “Huh… I hadn’t considered that they might need my help like that…”

“It’s easy to curl in after you’ve been hurt but sometimes the best thing you can do it reach out and help someone else.” I shrugged. “If you want, that is.” I waved my hand about. “You go out on your journey and have some fun otherwise, alright?”

“I can do that,” Forrest said.

I nodded and for a moment a quiet settled easily between us. I then shot him a smirk that had him tensing up in brotherly anticipation. “I’m only giving you stable rights for twenty-four pokemon by the way so don’t go too crazy.”

“What! But I’m your brother!?”

“Yeah which is why it’s not fifty!” I teased. He huffed at me and rolled his eyes at me making me sarcastically respond in kind. He chuckled and I stood. “Come on let’s go talk with the others. Give them time to hang out with you. Ash’s match is midmorning, I’ll keep them home from school today and you can spend some time with each of them before you leave.”

“Urgh! fine! “ he said. I opened my mouth to reprimand him and tell him that it would be more important than he realised but then I shut it. He wouldn’t understand. Not until he experienced them not being around would he understand how important small moments could be.

I merely huffed in mock annoyance and led him back to our house after I forced him to help me feed my elite team. When we got to feeding Gawain he got a gleam in his eyes. “Say, you still open to me taking one of your Elite with me…”

“Hell no,” I said as he eyed my secret ace against Will.

When we made it to breakfast Yolanda and Flint had made Forrest’s favourite breakfast. Pancakes with bacon cooked into them. I felt my arteries clog up just looking at them but took one and then a small side dish of yogurt and fruit.

Halfway through the meal I clapped my hands together. “Alright gang I have some news! Last night Forrest decided that he is going on his journey! That means that he will be heading out with some friends he made recently! Due to this you’re all going to stay home from school so you can see him off properly!”

“Hooray!” some of them shout. Tilly and Billy of course take a moment to catch on before joining in “Yeah! Hooray! Forrest is leaving!” they shout.

The older kids, caught up in their ’no school today’ haze stop at that, and round on Forrest. “What?” said Cindy.

Forrest grinned. “I think it’s time that I go on my journey! I need to grow up and be my own man!”

“But… weren’t you going to go exploring with me in Viridian Forest now that you had Onix?” asked Salvadore.

I grimaced at that but Forrest shook his head. “Sorry little bro, dad will have to do that with you in my place!”

“You’ll call right?” asked Cindy causing Forrest to roll his eyes and nod.

“Yeah, I suppose once a month.” I coughed pointedly. “Fortnight!” I coughed louder. “Alright I’ll call once a week!” I nodded slowly at that before returning to watching the others check in with Forrest.

Suzie tapped Forrest on the knee. “Hey, if you’re gone can we go into your room?”

“What? No! It’s still my room!”

“But you won’t be there, so it won’t be?” Suzie said logically. Cindy and Salvadore snorted in amusement at this logic.

“Just because I’m gone doesn’t mean it stops being mine!” said Forrest.

Suzie considered this before nodding slowly. “Hmmm alright then… but eventually we’ll have a room for Sabrina to sleep in. When we get a bigger house.”

I chuckled only to catch the glint in Yolanda eyes as she leaned forward. “Don’t—”

“Actually, she already stays over. Remember? She sleeps with Brock?”

Suzie gasped and shot me a look. “And you didn’t invite me for a sleep over as well?!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “And on that note I am going to go to work. Forrest. Clean your room before you go. I don’t want Munchlax eating anything off that you leave behind.”

“I don’t have any food in there!” he said. I snorted in disbelief. “No really!”

I turned to Munchlax who’d just put his plate in the sink. I pointed up the hallway. “Munchlax, any food you find in Forrest’s room today is all yours. Go!”

Munchlax didn’t even hesitate, he sprinted straight for the room leaving Forrest to gape after him. I smirked and walked off to see to the morning’s challengers. Among whom was a certain Ash from Pallet town.

----------------------------------------

When Ash entered the Gym through the doors the room was dark. He stepped forward with conviction and his jaw set. A boom light flashed to life to illuminate him and I called out from the dark.

“You challenge the Pewter Gym?” My words echoed through the room and Ash stopped to stand tall.

“I do! I’m getting your Boulder badge today Brock!”

A light illuminated me on the podium. “Very well! Try your best!” I said exuding all the dark menace I could. I resized a pokeball as the other lights came on to reveal the rest of the arena and the crowd who came to life with the lights.

They roared their approval but Ash didn’t look away from me. His eyes remained locked straight ahead.

In between us, Rocko raised the flags and called out the rules before indicating for us to release. Nostalgia swept through me as I tossed out my first choice. “Go Geodude!”

A classic.

Ash squared his jaw. “Go Pikachu!”

“Pika!” said his pokemon as he leapt into action, landing on the arena floor.

I chuckled. “A Pikachu? Well let’s see how wise that was.”

“Begin!” shouted Rocko as he dropped the flags.

“Pikachu, use Quick Attack!” Pikachu threw itself into a sprint that tore around Geodude.

“Geodude, Defense Curl!”

“Glancing hits Pikachu! Don’t try to go head to head!” a moment later saw Pikachu sprint past my pokemon only for Geodude to grunt in annoyance. Pikachu had swiped his paw over Geodude at speed, then turned around and did it again on the other side.

I wasn’t about to just let that play out however. “Geodude, use Roll Out! Chase after that Pikachu!”

“Geo!” barked my pokemon as it threw itself into a ball and rolled after Pikachu quickly.

“Quick Pikachu! Weave through the boulders like we practised!” Pikachu began to sprint behind boulder after boulder, causing Geodude to slam into them one after another. I hummed. Not a bad move actually. It tired out Geodude certainly.

“Geodude, stop and use Rock Throw!” I said changing it up after the last boulder on the field was destroyed.

Geodude stopped on a pokedime and swung his arms causing a huge cascade of rocks to go soaring through the air.

“Pikachu dodge!” Ash cried out desperately only for Pikachu to take a few hits. It shrugged them off and then sprinted back at Geodude who was caught off guard.

This time Pikachu hit him head on with the Quick Attack and Geodude was tired and just weak enough to be taken out of the match. I hummed. Ash had done well to avoid a lot of damage from my attacks. Avoided throwing himself into head on clashes until my pokemon’s defense was weakened and tired it out.

That had all come at the cost of Pikachu running around a lot and taking a few glancing blows. But he’d really made the field a lot easier for me to use Rock moves. I could easily sweep him if I wanted to, I just knew it. I stared across the field at him, measuring how far I could push him.

“Go Onix!” I shouted releasing an Onix that roared defiantly. Pikachu took a few steps back. I punched my arm straight ahead. “Rock Throw! Sweep your tail about!”

“Uh!” Ash said in shock as Pikachu faced a wall of rocks. “Pikachu! Quick Attack through a small rock!”

“Pika-chu!” said the electric mouse as it tried only to fail.

“Uh! Pikachu! Get up we need you to keep fighting!”

Pi-pika!” said Pikachu as he rose unsteadily to his feet. I tilted my head as Ash flicked his eyes towards the grating that ran around the arena. Hmmm was he banking on getting me to attack him?

“Onix use Bide!” I said deciding to test him.

Ash stiffened and went upright. “Pikachu quick into the corner!” Ah, he was aware of part of how Bide worked it would seem.

I smirked as Ash leaned forward. Onix coiled in on himself and clenched tighter and tighter while looking annoyed. Ash stared so hard I knew he was just waiting for the right moment. Onix spasmed and flinched causing Ash to point to the side. “Now Pikachu! Leap to the—” Pikachu was already moving only for Onix to remain in place.

“Huh?” Ash said as Pikachu turned his head.

I smirked evily. “Rock Throw,” I said once more causing all the broken bits of boulder to rise up. This time Pikachu was out of position and nowhere near ready to dodge. A few rocks slammed into him and he tumbled away before skidding to a stop.

“AH! Pikachu!” Ash leapt off the podium and lifted his pokemon up. “You okay buddy?”

I watched Ash carry Pikachu to the side where he handed the still weak mouse to Misty who started spraying potion all over him and gently wiping him down with a cloth. Ash then turned back to me his eyes taking in the field that was littered with strewn rock form his earlier tactic of avoiding Geodude.

I could see him working out that his own actions had led to my advantage. He frowned for a moment. “Why didn’t your pokemon attack? Bide forces the pokemon to attack.”

I chuckled. “It does, and it even returns the damage done to it double, but the key point is that it needs to take damage to be forced into it.” I said playing into the trope of ‘bad guy’ by explaining my ‘move’ to the protagonist. It wasn’t like it was a secret. Ash had obviously done his research but he hadn’t done it to the depth that was required and now it was biting him in the backside.

He nodded slowly as the lesson took hold. “Alright… Go Butterfree!” He said sending out his second pokemon.

I frowned. Butterfree had been a favourite of mine for many playthroughs. But I never sent it out against Brock in the games due to the double weakness of Flying-bug type.

“Butterfree we’re going to take on Onix with Tackle a few times! Prepare yourself!” he said causing his butterfree to nod vigorously. I tilted my head. Did he expect me to ignore the…

Hmmm... Oh, I see; he wanted to bait me into using Bide again. Yeah, no.

“Rock Throw!” I shouted, enjoying the way Ash’s eyes bulged.

“Fly up!” Butterfree swept its wings and rose rapidly, just barely dodging the attacks and now fluttering nervously side to side as Ash looked on worriedly. Alright Ash, your plan isn’t working. What are you going to do now?

“Sleep Powder!” he said. I nodded, a good move with his pokemon on high.

“... Rock Polish,” I said deciding against upping the ante too much with Dig. A sheen went over my pokemon and Ash clenched his fist as the Onix’s eyes fluttered closed.

“Now! Go for Psybeam!”

“Free!” said his pokemon as it charged up and fired off a blast of Psychic energy. I grinned. So, he’d really trained up his Butterfree alot it seemed over the last few weeks.

“Again!” he said just as Onix began to rouse itself. Another Psybeam was fired off and I had just enough time to shout out “Bide!” to him which caused him to clench up before the beam hit.

Ash twitched. “Butterfree! Into the corner now!” Instantly his pokemon fluttered down.

I hummed. “Sure that’s a good move Ash? My pokemon has Rock Polish, it’s going to come faster…”

“I'll believe in Butterfree!” Ash said firmly.

I hummed. “Alright then, unleash it Onix!”

Onix twisted and rose up onto the tip of his tail before descending.

“Butterfree! Use string shot to pull out of the way!” Butterfree shot a line of string that it then tugged on while flapping furiously to evade Onix as he slammed into the grill. When the water splashed up over Onix’s head he groaned in pain before slumping over.

I returned him with a snort as Butterfree started flapping around madly in celebration. Ash punched the air. “Yeah! We did it!”

The podiums dropped down and I marched forth with Rocko. “Congratulations Ash, you have proven yourself capable of defeating me and earning the Boulder Badge.”

“Yes!” I got the Boulder Badge!” Ash grabbed the badge and whipped around to show it off to Misty and the crowd who cheered. He grinned as Butterfree hugged into the back of his head.

“It was well fought for a trainer that had pokemon that are at a disadvantage against Rock types.” I tilted my head. “Unless you caught something else other than your Pidgeotto recently?”

Ash shook his head and I hummed. “Maybe change that up before the next Gym yeah? Things will get tougher and with the pokenet people will be able to scout you out in advance. Also, some advice?” I said with an open hand. Ash sheepishly nodded,

“Don’t be too invested in a plan that you forget other options exist. There are many ways to solve a problem. You found one and tried to force the issue, but remember I’d seen you do it before with Forrest. I didn’t have to take the bait.” I offered a shrug. “Some people would have fallen for it though so nice work making the attempt. Also, beware changing the field around early if it ends up suiting the trainer your fighting. Rock throw and Stone Edge would have been easier on this field with it broken up. Pikachu had no areas to dodge into at the end.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “And have some more confidence. I don’t think you needed to back off Butterfree’s attacks like you did. Those Psybeams were great and another would have ended the match just as well as your trick did. I’m impressed you were able to teach it Psybeam so early into your journey.”

Ash grinned. “Thanks! Selene showed me how to do it!”

I snorted. That’s cheeky, having another trainer’s Elite pokemon teach him a move. Shameless, completely shameless. I gestured to Rachel and she moved in to take some pictures with Ash and I. “We’ll make sure your mum gets some yeah?”

“Yeah! She’ll love these!” he said happily. It was a good picture with Ash in the middle with Butterfree on one shoulder while Pikachu was on the other wearing Ash’s cap. I stood slightly to the side with Rocko, both of us making V for victory signs at the camera.

I gestured to the side. “Alright, I’ll see you in a bit. I have one more match before lunch. Then we’ll see if he’s ready to go.”

“Sure thing!” Ash said as he ran up to where Misty was sitting. I chuckled when I saw him start recounting how the fight went to her.

“I know Ash! I was there remember?!” she said, leading him back to the rooms they’d been staying in.

The last match was over far too quickly for my liking.

And just like that. It was time for Forrest to leave.

Forrest stood in front of our home rather than the Gym where we’d be swarmed by people. It wasn’t just my family, but also some of the gym’s employees like Dennis, Rocko, Jackson and even Missy there to see him off. Greta stood to the side, now officially a trainer of the Gym having completed the paperwork with the caveat that she’d be interchanging with other gyms on occasion as well for further development over the year.

Forrest gave everyone a hesitant smile. “Sorry for all the trouble I caused!” he said with a bow.

Missy bowed back. “Thank you for the time you spent showing me how things worked in the Gym when I started! Enjoy your Journey and don’t be afraid of trying some new things!” she said earnestly.

Rocko waved a hand. “Don’t sweat the little things. Time will show you what does and doesn’t matter. It’s all relative little man!”

Dennis sniffed. “You were dragged down through dishonourable conduct. Don’t be ashamed of what others have done. It will not blemish you unless you allow it!” I leaned closer, was Dennis trying to stop himself from crying?

Jackson swept Forrest into a hug and whispered something into Forrest’s ear that had Forrest shooting out of his grasp with a blush. He glanced back at Misty and seemed relieved when she merely gave a curious tilt of the head. I rolled my eyes understanding that Jackson had obviously just given some ‘helpful advice’.

I let my little siblings weep around him giving him hugs and making him endure goodbye kisses. Flint hugged Forrest and there was a moment where Flint’s eyes watered but he didn’t cry. Forrest likewise had wet eyes but no tears that he most certainly didn’t have to wipe away.

I looked back after a moment and gave him a lazy smile. “Alright, guess this is so long for now little brother.” I shared a smile with him and then gave him a hug that held.

When we broke apart I adopted a serious expression. “When you next come back, I expect you to show me how far you’ve come.” I stared him down and he stiffened at being on the receiving end of my Mean Look.

Then he rolled his shoulders and stood tall like I knew he would. “I’m going to surprise you Brock!”

I smirked and nodded before reaching out and hugging him once more. “I will look forward to that. You look after yourself, your pokemon and Ash and Misty alright?”

“I will,” he said back.

I rubbed the back of his head. “I love you little brother, come home safe and make sure to call when you can otherwise Suzie might claim your room for her dolls.”

He snorted and stepped back only to pause when he saw Suzie looking hopeful. “I’ll call. I love you all.” He stepped away and started walking , Ash and Misty linking up with him a moment later, their own backpacks firmly in place. “Good bye everyone!” he shouted while waving.

We waved back and watched him round the corner. I sighed, and just like that Ash, Misty and Forrest were gone.

Yolanda giggled, drawing my attention. “What’s so funny?”

She giggled a little more and then smiled as she said, “He’s going to so appreciate being home and having a laundry when he comes home! But no way I’m doing his washing anymore now that he’s finally gone on his journey!”

I laughed, and a small tense part of me knew that my family and I would be fine.