Chapter 13: Meeting AJ. Taking Ash as a Disciple - Part 3
Brock looked up at the airship in the sky, stunned. He thought, _It's my own fault! For the past twelve years, I only focused on Pokémon-related matters and forgot to learn about everything else in this world. I didn't expect this world even had airships! I wonder why it's flying and just hovering up there! When I get to Vermilion City, I absolutely must catch up on my general knowledge._ Brock was so preoccupied with this thought that he momentarily forgot he was still in a battle!
"Sandshrew, attack Zubat quickly!" Seeing Brock spacing out, AJ seized the opportunity and commanded his Sandshrew. Hearing AJ, Sandshrew leaped up, curled into a ball, and shot towards Zubat. Zubat saw Sandshrew coming but hadn't received a command from Brock, so it looked towards Brock and cried out. Zubat's cry snapped Brock back to attention. By the time Brock reacted and shouted, "Zubat, dodge quickly!" Zubat managed to dodge rapidly, but it was still grazed by Sandshrew's attack.
Hit by Sandshrew's attack, Zubat fell from the sky onto the ground. However, Zubat hadn't lost its ability to battle yet. It quickly took off from the ground back into the air.
Seeing Zubat flying back into the air, AJ commanded Sandshrew, "Sandshrew, quickly, attack Zubat again!" Hearing AJ, Sandshrew once again curled into a ball and leaped into the air towards Zubat. Just as Sandshrew was about to hit Zubat, a laser beam struck it. Sandshrew, still curled in a ball, instantly turned to stone and fell to the ground.
A small robotic vehicle drove onto the battlefield and picked up the petrified Sandshrew. Seeing his Sandshrew being carried away by the robot, AJ ran over and blocked the vehicle's path.
"Annoying little brat! Get out of the way, quickly!" A voice came from the sky. Brock and the others heard the voice and looked up. They saw a Salamence flying down from above. A woman who looked about 20 years old, with short silver hair, wearing sunglasses and black clothes, dismounted from the Salamence's back.
AJ looked at the woman and demanded, "Who are you?! Why did you capture my Sandshrew?! Change my Sandshrew back!"
Hearing AJ, the woman replied, "Who I am is none of your business. My client wants a Sandshrew that isn't afraid of water. I heard there was one here. Therefore, I'm taking this Sandshrew of yours." After speaking, the woman glanced at the petrified Sandshrew and thought, _This is the only Sandshrew here; this must be the one the client wants! Another successful deal for me._
"Brat, get out of the way quickly! Otherwise, I won't be so polite anymore," the woman threatened.
"I won't move! What right do you have to capture my Pokémon?!" AJ retorted defiantly.
"On the basis that you lack strength! If you were stronger than me, I wouldn't be able to capture your Pokémon! Salamence, use Flamethrower!" the woman answered coolly. Hearing its master's command, Salamence unleashed a stream of fire from its mouth towards AJ.
Seeing AJ in danger, Brock commanded his Zubat, "Zubat, use Air Slash! Slice that Flamethrower apart!" Hearing Brock's command, Zubat launched an Air Slash towards the flames. The Air Slash split the Flamethrower, preventing AJ from being hit.
Seeing Brock interfere, the woman turned to him and said, "You brat, interfering with my business! Watch how I deal with you!"
Hearing the woman's threat, Brock entered his mindscape, activated the Inspect function, and checked her data:
_Name: Pokémon Hunter J_
_Strength: Gym Leader Rank - Late Stage_
_Name: Salamence_
_Master: Pokémon Hunter J_
_Strength: Gym Leader Rank - Late Stage_
_Potential: Supreme_
"Salamence! Use Flamethrower on that brat!" the woman commanded, pointing at Brock. Hearing his master, Salamence shot a stream of fire towards Brock.
Brock snapped out of his mindscape just in time to see the flames rushing towards him. Seeing the fire about to hit him, Brock panicked. Suddenly, a Thunderbolt shot past Brock, intercepting the flames. The Flamethrower was neutralized by the Thunderbolt.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted from the side of the battlefield.
"Ash, thanks! If it weren't for you, even if I didn't die, I'd end up in the hospital!" Brock said, turning his head towards Ash. (People's bodies in this world, while generally resilient, could still be severely injured or killed if attacked directly by others or wild Pokémon. One's own Pokémon might sometimes attack their trainer but would control their power. Some wild Pokémon might also control their strength).
"Ms. Pokémon Hunter J, how much for this Sandshrew? I'll buy it," Brock said with a smile, looking at the petrified Sandshrew, while thinking, _Damn it, her strength is higher than mine, and her Pokémon's strength is also higher than mine. How can I possibly fight her? Let's see if money can solve this problem first._
"Brat, how do you know my name? This Sandshrew already has a buyer. If you want to buy Pokémon, I'll sell to you next time I have stock," Pokémon Hunter J said, gesturing towards the Sandshrew.
"Ms. Pokémon Hunter J, regardless of how I know your name, I want *this* Sandshrew. I'll pay double the price for it. Please consider it."
Hearing Brock's offer, the Pokémon Hunter thought seriously for a moment, _Should I sell it to him? This could damage my reputation... But I really need the money right now! This brat is offering double price... I'll sell it to him first! I can just catch another one for the original buyer later!_
"Alright, deal! Payment first, then the goods," Pokémon Hunter J said to Brock.
"Ms. Pokémon Hunter J, do you have a card reader? I only have my League Card right now, no cash," Brock said, taking a black League Card out of his pocket.
Hearing Brock, Pokémon Hunter J took out a small card reader from her equipment. She walked over to Brock, handed him the card reader, and said, "Here's the reader, you can swipe your card now." Brock entered the amount stated by the Pokémon Hunter and completed the transaction. After paying, Brock handed the card reader back to Pokémon Hunter J.
Receiving the card reader, Pokémon Hunter J mounted her Salamence, flew up to the airship in the sky, and left. Meanwhile, the small robotic vehicle on the battlefield put down the petrified Sandshrew and departed.
"Daisy! Misty! Why did you hold me back? And not let me speak?" Ash complained. "And you, Brock! Why didn't you fight that bad guy?! Why did you give her money instead? You should have at least battled her first!"
Brock looked at the petrified Sandshrew and said to AJ, "AJ, don't worry about Sandshrew. It's fine; it'll return to normal in about an hour."
AJ picked up the petrified Sandshrew, walked over to Brock, and said, "Thank you, Brock! If it weren't for you, my Sandshrew would have been taken away. How much money did you pay? I'll pay you back."
"AJ, no need for thanks. If something can be solved with money, it's not really a problem. Don't worry about how much it cost. Let's just leave it at that," Brock said.
But AJ insisted, "No! She captured *my* Pokémon, and you also saved me just now. I can't let you spend money on top of that!"
Since AJ insisted, Brock told him the amount. Hearing the figure Brock quoted, AJ said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Brock... I don't have that much money right now. Can I pay you back once I've earned enough?"
"AJ, I have a compromise solution. Do you want to hear it?" Brock offered.
Hearing Brock, AJ asked, "What solution?"
Brock replied, "AJ, the solution is this: AJ, you help me guard my Gym for one year, and you won't have to pay back the money."
AJ considered Brock's proposal for a moment, then said, "Okay. Tell me where your Gym is, and what type of Gym it is."