We walked at a leisure pace out of Rustboro, all being happy to be out of the city again. Poochyena was not overstimulated any more and walked calmly at my side, Absol on my other side was clearly in a better mood. Well Seedot was still in my arms, he was probably happy to be able to finally train.

When the evening loomed I found a nice camping spot and collected some wood to start a fire. While bustling around I spoke to my Pokemon.

“Absol, Poochyena you two can go for a quick hunt. Just don’t leave anything in plain sight alright?” Absol and Poochyena looked at me, then at each other. Both wearing a smirk they were off into the woods.

Seedot sat at my tent, a good bit away from the fire and waited patiently for his food.

“Don’t worry I did not forget you.” I chuckled after looking back at my tent. Grabbing his bowl and his food mix from my backpack I arranged his meal. My water started bubbling right after, so I went to make myself some coffee.

I sat beside my Seedot, sipping my coffee, while listening to the sounds of the woods. Which were interrupted by snapping twigs, I looked around but saw nothing. Setting my coffee aside I called out to my Seedot.

“Be ready, something is close by.” Seedot quickly went from tranquil to alert and scanned the treeline. I suddenly heard a voice, a voice I recognised. Sighing I said to Seedot.

“It’s just those guys Seedot.” Seedot nodded but stayed vigilant.

Crashing trough bushes Ash Ketchum skidded to a halt in the clearing. The rest of his group and Pikachu followed with more grace.

“Look what the Meowth has dragged in.” I called out to them with a smile. Brock was the first to react and smiled back.

“Well hello there, Iruni was it right?”

“Yes Brock, Iruni is right.” I answered.

“Hello” chimed May while skipping to the fire to warm herself.

“Good evening.” came from Max, who afterwards righted his glasses which apparently shifted for a millimetre.

“Pika” Pikachu waved and Ash finally got a word in. “Hi Iruni. Did you also got lost along the way? You were off quite fast last time.”

I chuckled. “No I’m on my way back. I already beat Roxanne and got her badge, now I’m on my way to Dewford for training and the Knucklebadge.” I explained to them. “Feel free to join me, it’s getting dark.” I added, gesturing with my hand.

“Thank you, can I take the fire?” asked Brock and lifted a pot from his back pack a bit.

“Yes, feel free to Brock.” I nodded back.

“What? You already beat the first gym? Then you are a strong trainer right?” asked Ash and suddenly started making logical leaps I really wasn’t able to follow.

“I guess, but it’s just the first badge. I would wager not many people lost to Brock either on the first tier level. You usually only need a Pokemon with a type advantage after all.” I explained, to somehow get Ash to clarify what he meant.

“True, Rock Pokemon can display their strength only on higher levels and with more advanced tactics.” chimed Brock in from the fire, not even looking up.

“First tier? Level? What are you two talking about?” Ash asked.

“Well, when you challenged Brock for example he fought you with what, an Onix and a Geodude?” Ash nodded but still looked confused. “On a higher level you would eventually fight Golem, Graveller, Ryhorn and Rhydon. Those at least are the most common rock types of Kanto. Does your gym owns a Tyranitar Brock?” I asked Brock after explaining the concept to Ash. He just stood there as if his mind was blown.

Brock chuckled. “No, we never owned one of their line. I never caught one of them. They have a bad temperament, so I stayed clear of them. We did own a Magcargo though and my dad managed to get his hands on some Kanto fossil Pokemon.”

“Ahh, too bad. I would have really liked to talk about Tyranitar, they are an incredibly powerful dark type after all. Though they lean to the power side, rather than the more trick oriented battle style of other dark types.” I explained.

“You sure know a lot about Pokemon.” chimed in May.

“I did work three years at Birch’s lab after all and I researched dark types with every resource I could get my hands on.” I laughed.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Did you battle my father Norman yet?” asked Max.

“No, I know that you need more than two Pokemon and I want to preserve his challenge for a time when he can field Slaking. That will be a nice measurement of our strength, also a funny battle from two Johtonians in Hoenn.” I explained to Max.

“You would have lost anyway.” answered Max haughtily.

‘This kid has a serious chip on his shoulder.’ I thought wryly. Absol and Poochyena chose that moment to re-enter the clearing. Absol was still licking her lips as she made her way to me, while Poochyena just straight up ran to me.

“There you two are, did you have fun?” I asked them while scratching Poochyena, who couldn’t answer because of the scratching. Absol just nodded and laid down next to me. I looked her over and saw that the did not clean herself enough. I clicked my tongue.

“Really Absol, you know that you have to clean yourself after hunting. Come here, let me get a cloth and some water.” I said while shaking my head.

May flinched when she saw the blood on Absol’s muzzle. “W-why does your Absol has blood on her muzzle?” She asked shaken.

I turned and looked puzzled at her. “Because she hunted something and ate it?”

May shrunk a bit into herself and looked a bit green, same for Max. I just looked at Brock and mouthed ‘What?’. I shook my head and began cleaning Absol, in the background I heard Brock explaining Absol’s and Poochyena’s diet to May, Max and Ash. ‘Seems like he rebooted.’ I mused and switched the cloth to a brush to get Absol her brushing.

After Brock’s explanation and food served by him, the three of them looked better already. They also released their Pokemon, Ash’s Treeko and Taillow and May’s Torchic and Beautifly. Ash stood up and walked over to me with a determined and excited face. I already saw where this was going so I spoke up first.

“No.”

“What? I didn’t even say anything yet!” Ash exclaimed. I just gave him a deadpan look and sighed.

“You had it written all over your face. No I won’t battle you today or tomorrow. You need to get to Rustboro and I need to get to Petalburg to catch a ferry. I can’t risk my Pokemon getting wounded and needing a trip to the Pokemon Center. Who knows if you are fast enough you will catch me in Dewford.”

“Augh…come on.” Ash whined.

“No, also I just brushed Absol’s fur. She really does not like it getting dirty, she can get mean at those times.” I said and smirked slightly. Absol looked up and gave Ash a look that screamed pain if he continues. Ash looked a bit alarmed at that look on Absol’s face.

“Alright, I give up.” he said and did a ‘give up’ gesture. He slumped and started walking back to his tent. I just had an idea to rub it in a bit, I also don’t like getting disturbed after all.

“One thing Ash.” He looked over his shoulder.

“Roxanne had a wait list of three weeks when I had my battle.” I chuckled, Ash looked alarmed at that. Max apparently heard me and spoke up.

“How did you manage to get the battle so quickly then?”

I scratched my head. “Well I kind of crashed a lesson of her and Professor Oak. Then I gave an impromptu lesson on dark types and after that Roxanne invited me to a battle in front of her students.” I explained to them and ended with a shrug. I purred myself a new coffee and took a sip.

Max harrumphed. “I don’t believe you.” I just laughed.

“Good thing that I don’t care right? You can just ask Roxanne, maybe she even has a recording of the class. It cant hurt to learn more about dark types.”

Brock looked up at me. “Would I able to get your number Iruni? It could be possible that I acquire a dark type and I would like to ask you question if it happens.” I just shrugged.

“Yeah, not problems. I will hopefully have a new team member when we see each other, maybe you can look him and my other Pokemon over then. Never hurts to have another opinion, especially when it is a gym leader providing it.” I answered easily. Who knows, maybe he can help me with getting a Larvitar. He should know the woods around Pewter after all.

We exchanged numbers and I saw that it was quite late. So I spoke up. “I will turn in, my Pokemon will hold watch. They are somewhat nocturnal if they want.” They all wished me good night and I crawled into my tent. Seedot joined me in the tent and claimed my pillow. I looked at him with a deadpan.

“Is that something I will have to endure every night now?” Seedot smirked and nodded. I sighed and made dew with my jacket. I will have to buy a new one in the city before the forest.

The next morning dawned and I woke up due to Seedot nudging me. I flailed a bit and sat up.

“I’m up! I’m up!” I looked around owlishly, that wake up usually was caused by dad. Looking at Seedot I saw the culprit, he sniggered at my antics.

“Yeah laugh it up, you know I will get back at you.” I grumbled and clothed myself. Exiting the tent I saw that the morning just broke, so it’s still night for me which caused me to look at Seedot.

“Was it really necessary to wake me up that early?” he just nodded and pushed his bowl.

“Someday you will eat me broke little guy.” I shook my head and began setting out food for my Pokemon. After getting myself coffee Brock emerged from his tent.

“Huh, the same as last time.” I comment while sipping my coffee. He just chuckled.

“Indeed, but didn’t you say last time that you usually wake up late?” he tilted his head during the question. I sighed and looked at Seedot.

“Well someone had a hunger apparently.” Brock chuckled again.

“Ah, yes that would do it.” he said and started making breakfast and asked me. “You eating with us?” I turned the question over in my head.

“You know what? Why not, I don’t fancy eating ration bars again.” at his look of confusion I added.

“I do know how to cook, but in the morning I just don’t have the energy.”

“Ah yes, Ash only wakes up after breakfast so I’m used to it.” he laughed.

After everyone was up we and the Pokemon ate a hearty breakfast. ‘That guy really can cook, to bad that their weird luck isn’t worth it.’ I mused while eating another helping.

Eventually we all ate and cleaned up the campsite. I spoke up.

“So, I will be off now. Maybe we will see each other again in Dewford.” Ash shook my hand and exclaimed.

“We sure will. I want to have that battle.” I just chuckled and started walking away. Waving over my shoulder I just was happy that they seemed to be doing fine and nothing happened. You know like me knocking over the whole timeline or something like that.

Chuckling at that thought I turned to my Pokemon. “Let’s make haste, you probably want to start training and learning new moves right?” They all nodded seriously, they took my speech from Rustboro to heart. I smiled and we started our trek anew.