Chapter 5: The challenge laid out

Chapter 5: The challenge laid out

Yoo-hoo Mr Gym leader! Good morning! Brock! Pewter city rocks!!

I waved as I walked down the streets of my city, acknowledging the various people that called out to me as I went. I was a well-known face and there had been a lot of community uproar when my dad had left.

There had been lots of wagging tongues back then. Lots of people had doubted me. Lots of well-meaning people who just wanted what was best for me and my family had leaked out of the woodwork. So, so, so many critics. The people that actually knew me and helped could thankfully be counted on two hands but it had been a frustrating time in my life. Hard work along with a solid performance record meant I had been able to retain the position while holding onto our house. Taking care of my family was still a challenge as with Dad gone, I was the only one my little siblings could look to.

I didnt even want to touch the issue of my mother.

Right now, I was looking to pick up some of them from school after getting groceries. Which now included Munchlax chow. A whole three bags full. I smiled when I got to the usual pick up point. The usual crowd were all there with many of the mothers smiling and waving. The fathers nodded in greeting and the few stray people my age gave shy smiles. I merely nodded, ignoring the giggles that my huge hiking pack I was carrying garnered. It was a now typical sight that the residents of Pewter had gotten used to.

Just because I could carry the various groceries my small tribe of a family needed didnt make it easy. Unless you played it smart. It looked dorky as hell but it worked. One man had once commented on it only for me to shut him up by asking him to hold it while I tied up my shoe. His nearly being crushed by something that I carried with ease had shut them up that day.

I thankfully didnt have the Brock habit of swooning and throwing myself at women like he did in the cartoon. I certainly appreciated them more in this life; as they all also stayed very fit even with office jobs. It was rare to see overweight people in the pokemon world and most of the time it was more a muscled look than actual flab.

Brock, nice to see you! Johnny was telling said one woman as a group approached me.

Women approaching me and talking about pokemon or getting tutoring for their kids wasnt unusual in my city. I was all too happy to help. Heck, I still coached the little league baseball team, so that only gave parents twice the opportunities and number of reasons to seek me out. Thankfully Baseball season was run only in the off circuit timetable, and really only took up two and a bit afternoons. In truth, all sports ran at the same time,, making it a tough market to be in, but baseball was one of the most popular. It was something Id have to look into in a few months time once the conference was over.

Hey Brock who do you think is going to win in tonights match up? asked a dad that was glancing at a newspaper. He likely had the odds section opened judging by the numbers that were being shown along with the pictures of various Ponyta, Rapidash, Growlithe and Arcanine littered across the page.

Whos fighting?

Bruno and Agatha! announced the man. This led to a mutter being picked up as people began talking about the implications of the match. I merely leaned back, happy to not comment. Honestly, I think the man was more looking to strike up a conversation than actually asking for my take.

I picked up my bevy of little sisters and brothers from the school and waved them to their friends and the mothers. Then it was off to the nursery where the youngest twins were, then a short walk home accompanied the entire way by the tirade of noise that comes with having small children being forced to remain within close contact.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

Nuh-uh! Im not touching you! said Tommy as he faked moving at Cindy before pulling back.

Brock!

Stand on the other side away from him Cindy. Tommy stop harassing her, show me how fast you are instead by running to that Ratata and back.

Tommy sprinted off, happy to show off while the Ratata that had been going through one of our neighbours garbage bins shrieked in surprise before dashing away. The rest of the kids laughed before they began telling me of their day and what they learned. I made sure to compliment and praise good behaviour as the parenting guide had suggested. I made them dinner and set them to work on their homework before going through with my own gym paperwork. The day spent at school and the more serious air letting all but the youngest settle down. Each of us was in the same room with our work while a Geodude rolled around and played with the youngest kids. The newly acquired Munchlax happily devoured snacks thrown his way.

My own homework such that it was, was both mundane, interesting, and boring at the same time. I rushed through the tedious paysheet for trainers that were working for the Gym, most of them currently on holiday with the circuit winding down. I only had three of them on instead of the eight that I could. Two of whom Id be expecting to finish up with at the end of this season.

I had some plans for how things would play out in the future. There was a big question looming in my mind though, of if I should let canon play out. I had already changed tons of things, both in major and minor ways. Id exploited the knowledge I had to set my family up in a better position.

You only had to look at the state of the art gym that Id had designed and created which my family now lived in. I wouldnt ever feel guilty about this but it certainly would add some possible wrinkles. Id only have felt guilty if I hadnt used the knowledge I possessed. I wouldnt ignore that I also wanted to be in a stronger position than the canonical Brock but regardless, I wouldnt have been able to look myself in the mirror if I hadnt made myself as strong as possible.

Oh, oh! Brock, you might get a chance to fight the champ! said Forrest excitedly. The rest of my family all sat up and voiced their own excitement with more than a few asking for autographs that I said Id get regardless. As a Gym Leader, I had a seat at the conference that I could use if I wanted.

And spin! shouted the male host with the best game show host voice Id heard in a while. Lance grabbed the wheel with both hands and gave it a toss that saw it blur into a spinning mess. The man tilted his head before laughing, Well that looks like it will take a while to handle so lets have a word from our sponsors!

Small icons flashed across the bottom of the screen talking up pokefood and Silph Co, who had sponsored the man. Lance couldnt stop the look of distaste flashing across his face momentarily. I chuckled, thatd teach him for not simply letting the wheel spin once or twice before settling; instead of showing off his aura enhanced physique.

for when you need more than a flashlight you need Flash! A pokemon technical move provided for you by the scientists of Silph Co.! The man glanced away from the camera to Lance who had a distinctly blank expression. And it looks like were slowing down now!

Around me, the vibrating, bouncing children stilled in anticipation. I saw the March Badge get ticked over along with the Volcano badge. I can already see where it will likely finish and my eyes are wide as I lean forward. The wheel came to a stop and the Boulder badge rested under the pointer.

YOU GET TO FIGHT LANCE! immediately my brothers and sisters explode as though an Exploud was among them. I chuckle and decide to just let them have the moment to celebrate. Theyd have a lot of energy now but they were kids moments like this were pretty big. Even I was feeling a bit caught up in the good cheer

Tch!

The sound from the tv cut through our celebrations. As one we returned our attention and found the hosts caught in surprise as Lance showed an expression as if hed just stepped in Snubbull dung. The hosts both had expressions of shock but the man recovered quicker.

Ah? Champion Lance, are you not happy with having the Pewter city gym as your first match?

My thoughts are that I dont want to waste the viewers at home or in the stadiums time with such a match. If I wasn't at least willing to let the weaker gyms have a shot I might reroll but in fairness, this will be good for Pewter I suppose.

The host flapped his mouth open and shut a few times before nodding. So you think the Pewter gym isnt worth the fight?

Please, Rock Types? They wouldnt be able to last against my Dragons. I have pokemon in my arsenal that could clean sweep that gym alone. Give me Saffron, or Cinnabar island. Beside him the woman that was supposed to be a Co-host swooned.

Well you heard it here folks Lance, Champion of the Indigo region is vowing to clean sweep the Pewter Gym! As for the redraw Lance Im sorry but that's the luck of the draw Im afraid. Now that date for this will be in a months time I switched the tv off.

The room was outright silent now with none of the previous energy that the kids had been showing. Their fires doused with the careless arrogance Lance had shown. I didnt remember this from him in the anime. I could probably conjure up a mountain worth of excuses for him but found myself not wanting to.

So looks like Im going to have to beat the champ hmmm? I said to the room. This caused a stir, but the kids merely smiled before saying that theyd get ready for bed.

A part of my pride felt a sting that forced me to sit up and watch as my family slunk out of the room.

None of the kids wanted stories that night. I tried to keep things ticking over like normal. Stories of my journey or mythic pokemon were offered and rejected as the kids stayed quiet.

I departed for bed myself only to find myself not tired. I turned my mind towards the tasks Id have to do tomorrow. It didn't help. My mind kept coming back to how quiet the room had been when hed clicked his tongue.

That moment, so casually given. So Callously given.

I think that was the poorly placed footstep that would see the first pebbles rumbling down the mountain. My mind shifted as I started to plan how Id dump an avalanche onto Lance.