Chapter 14: Pokémon Tech
Brock replied, "AJ, go to the Pewter Gym in Pewter City and look for someone named Flint. He's my old man and also the Gym Leader. He'll arrange what you need to do."
Hearing Brock, AJ said excitedly, "So it's the Pewter Gym! I heard that Gym teaches people how to train Pokémon! So that's your Gym, Brock! Brock, I'll definitely go! Can you teach me how to become stronger? If you can make me stronger, I'm willing to serve you!"
Hearing AJ's words, Brock thought, _Should I establish my own faction after all? I don't know anything about the enemy. If the enemy has their own forces, am I supposed to just fight a whole group alone like an idiot? No way! Just in case, I should build my own faction now. Then, if the enemy has forces, I'll have forces too, and I won't lose just because of numbers. And if the enemy doesn't have forces but I do, even if we can't defeat the enemy directly, having a group of my followers around would make it easier for me to escape! That settles it. Who told me to be so afraid of dying?_
After thinking for a moment, Brock replied to AJ, "AJ, with your current strength, I can't really help you get much stronger myself right now. After you get to the Pewter Gym, I'll have my dad teach you how."
Hearing this, AJ replied, "Okay!" Then he formally declared, "AJ pays respects to Boss!"
Hearing AJ, Brock quickly said, "You should probably just call me Brock! I'm not used to being called 'boss'."
"Okay, Brock! I need to pack up some things here first, then I'll head to the Pewter Gym," AJ said, while thinking, _It's all because my strength is too weak; I couldn't even protect my own Pokémon. I must become stronger to protect everything I care about!_ After speaking, AJ ran into the tent.
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Outside the battlefield, Ash, Misty, and Daisy (who had been spacing out nearby) watched AJ go into the tent, then walked over to Brock's side.
"Brock, why did you give money to that woman?! And what did you say to AJ?" Ash asked.
Misty added curiously, "Brock, Ash is right. Can you tell us?"
"Since you both want to know so badly, I'll tell you," Brock began. "It's because I knew that woman was strong, and I couldn't beat her. I was also afraid of losing respect if I failed. So, I thought of a compromise. She's a Pokémon Hunter; the Pokémon she catches are just for selling anyway. That's why I offered double the price. By taking the money, she effectively sold the Sandshrew to me, which meant she wouldn't battle me, and I wouldn't lose. So I wouldn't lose respect. Then I gave the Sandshrew back to AJ. Spending some money allowed me to save respect and earn AJ's gratitude. Besides, it's not like I'm short on money."
Hearing Brock's explanation, Misty, Ash, and Daisy looked enlightened, saying "Ohh," in understanding. Then, the group of four humans and two Pokémon (Pikachu and Meowth) continued towards Vermilion City.
---
They entered a lush forest where a very thick fog hung in the air. They could only see clearly for about ten meters around themselves.
"Brock, when are we ever going to reach Vermilion City?" Ash complained impatiently as they walked.
"Ash, the fog is so thick right now, even with a map, I wouldn't know where we are! I'm pretty sure we're lost," Brock explained.
"Ash, Misty, Daisy, it's lunchtime! Let's just rest and eat here!" Brock said, putting down his backpack. Hearing Brock, Ash, Misty, and Daisy stopped, put down their backpacks, and rested.
Brock took some ingredients out of his backpack to prepare food and said to the others, "We don't have any fuel for a fire. So, Misty, Daisy, you two go gather firewood over there. Ash and I will go gather some on the other side. Let's meet back here in half an hour, okay?"
Misty, Daisy, and Ash replied together, "Okay!"
Brock pointed in one direction and said to Ash, "Ash, let's go this way." Brock immediately started walking in the direction he indicated. By the time Ash registered Brock's words, Brock was already about ten meters ahead. "Brock, wait for me!" Ash shouted and ran after him.
Meanwhile, Daisy and Misty headed off in the opposite direction from Brock. Ash and Brock chatted while gathering firewood.
"Ash," Brock started, "didn't you agree to one condition for me? My condition is that you become my disciple. Is that okay?"
"Brock, I do owe you one condition... but can you change it?" Ash asked.
"No, this is my only condition. If you agree to be my disciple, I will teach you and Pikachu how to get stronger. You don't have to call me 'Master' publicly; just call me 'Master' in private. In front of others, we can just act like brothers," Brock explained.
Hearing Brock's offer, Ash thought for a moment, then agreed. "Brock, I'm a man of my word. If that's the condition, then that's the condition."
The moment Ash agreed to Brock's condition, a "Ding!" sounded in Brock's mind. Brock checked his mindscape and saw that the side quest was completed. He then opened the Inspect function to check Ash's data:
_Name: Ash_
_Strength: Entry Rank Trainer - Early Stage_
_Pokémon: Pikachu, Pidgeotto, Butterfree_
_Name: Pikachu / Pidgeotto / Butterfree_
_Master: Ash_
_Strength: Entry Rank - Mid Stage / Entry Rank - Early Stage / Entry Rank - Early Stage_
_Potential: Champion / Supreme / Supreme_
Brock came out of his mindscape and returned with Ash to the agreed meeting spot. After a little while, Misty and Daisy also returned. Brock finished cooking the meal and the Pokémon food, and they all ate together. After eating, they continued heading towards Vermilion City.
---
The group arrived near a school deep in the forest. They saw five young boys doing something Brock couldn't quite make out. As Brock's group got closer, they saw one boy running on a treadmill while answering questions from the other four.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ash walked over and asked.
The other boys pointed to the one on the treadmill and replied, "We're helping him review his Pokémon knowledge." Hearing their answer, Ash didn't say anything further.
Brock walked over and asked, "Who are you guys?"
The boys replied, "We're students at Pokémon Tech." After saying this, the four boys walked away, leaving only the boy on the treadmill.
Ash said to the boy, "Hi! I'm Ash from Pallet Town! What's your name?"
The boy replied, "Hi, my name is Joe."
"Brock, what's Pokémon Tech?" Ash asked Brock and the others.
Hearing Ash, Misty answered, "Ash, Pokémon Tech is a school for Pokémon trainers. They say it's a school attended by children from very rich, noble families."
Hearing Misty, Daisy added, "Ash, also, students who graduate from Pokémon Tech can qualify for the Pokémon League competition without having to travel around collecting badges."
Hearing Daisy, Ash exclaimed, "Qualifying for the Pokémon League without badges? That's just lazy!"
Just then, the fog began to lift, revealing a magnificent and imposing academy before Brock and the others' eyes.