A battle?
Natsume exchanged glances with Gengar beside him.
"Gengar! ヽ(￣▽￣)" Gengar bounced eagerly.
Perfect timing for some exercise after eating~
"A battle isn't the issue..."
Lt. Surge scratched his head, then suddenly paled.
If those two went all out, the arena repair costs would be astronomical!
Was this their real motive for coming to my gym?!
"I want to measure my current strength against yours, Natsume-sensei."
Brock's expression hardened as he met Natsume's gaze.
"Even at a type disadvantage, I want to test myself against your Blastoise."
The usually stoic Brock burned with battle fervor—especially after witnessing Natsume's match against Shiori.
This was his chance to gauge his limits...
To prove that even against overwhelming odds, he could stand firm as Pewter City's indomitable Rock-type Leader.
For his siblings. For his pride.
A friendly match? No. This was a clash of convictions.
And Brock had chosen this moment deliberately—after studying Ash and Jasmine's fight, knowing Natsume might decline a formal gym challenge.
That terrifying Blastoise flashed through his mind.
"Natsume-sensei." The dark-skinned man in olive green squared his shoulders. "I humbly request your guidance!"
Natsume fell silent.
The unspoken rule held true: when trainers' eyes met, a battle followed.
(Even if Brock's were barely visible under that brow.)
Battles conveyed what words couldn't.
Natsume just wanted peaceful days with his Pokémon...
Yet destiny kept intervening.
Like Red and Blue's fated rivalry.
Or now, facing Brock's meticulously prepared challenge.
"You planned this from the start, didn't you?" Natsume eyed him suspiciously.
Brock stiffened, his dark cheeks flushing as he laughed awkwardly.
"W-what? No way! Hahaha!"
"Your face says otherwise, Mr. Brock," Ash deadpanned.
"Pikachu~" Pikachu nodded sagely.
"Never thought I'd see the day—stone-faced Brock catching battle fever."
Lt. Surge clicked his tongue before waving magnanimously.
"Fine! Use my arena. I'll cover damages!"
"..." For once, Brock's iron resolve wavered with gratitude.
Natsume finally understood Brock's scheme.
Using Surge's gym means free repairs...
Genius move, Brock!
With mechanical rumblings, a standard battlefield rose center-stage.
"Uncle Surge!" Ash vibrated with excitement. "Who's gonna win?"
Surge crossed his arms, studying the combatants seriously.
A 3v3 match...
Brock stands no chance against Natsume at full power.
But that Steelix he raised?
Even Natsume's Blastoise would struggle to crack it.
And Brock clearly had countermeasures prepared...
"Depends which Pokémon Natsume-sensei deploys," Lt. Surge muttered.
Then blinked. "Wait, what did you just call me?"
"Learned it from Senior Gold!" Ash grinned. "Makes us closer, right?"
"Tch." Surge mentally added another strike to Gold's tab.
"Miss Jasmine, your thoughts?" Maylene rubbed her arms, turning to the slender girl.
Jasmine whispered, "Mr. Brock's Mega Steelix has mastered Steel-type techniques... He's a formidable Master Tournament contender."
"This match... may reveal his true capabilities."
Maylene nodded, though her mind drifted to the League Tournament.
She had battled Natsume-sensei before and knew his favorite pastime was entering rookie tournaments.
Collecting badges to qualify for major events...
Now Brock, one of Kanto's most upstanding Gym Leaders, was about to fall victim to his schemes!
"Leader Brock, do your best!" Maylene cheered internally.
Clang! Clang!
Spotlights illuminated the two trainers at opposite ends of the arena.
"I'll referee!"
Lt. Surge swaggered forward with a checkered flag.
"Standard battlefield, 3v3 format, can rotate Pokémon... Any objections?"
The dark-skinned man in olive green crossed his arms and nodded solemnly.
Natsume gripped his Dive Ball, studying the mountain of resolve before him.
This steadfast older brother had sacrificed much for his family.
Doctor, breeder, chef, countless part-time jobs—
But "Rock-type Master" remained his most respected title.
A faint smile touched Natsume's lips.
He didn't dislike battles.
But needlessly endangering his Pokémon wasn't wise.
Yet here, where trainers' convictions collided...
Perhaps this was the true essence of Pokémon battles.
"Let's give it our all too, Gengar!" Natsume called softly.
"Gengar! ψ(｀ー｀)ψ"* Brandishing its stolen spoons, Gengar levitated beside him, spoons at the ready.
Lt. Surge grinned and swung his flag.
"Battle... begin!"
Brock took a deep breath and hurled an Ultra Ball.
Simultaneously, Natsume tossed a Premier Ball.
Though weaker than Sylveon, Sirfetch'd's type advantage better suited his tactical style—
With Blastoise and Gengar in reserve...
This was his answer to Brock's challenge!
"Leek Pancake, I choose you!"
"Sirfetch'd!" Though annoyed at the nickname,
The leek knight struck a heroic pose upon landing.
Finally! My turn to shine!
Let's see what weakling I'm facing tod—
Sirfetch'd froze.
Before it stood a horseshoe crab-like Kabutops.
Glowing red eyes. Twin scythes glinting murderously. Spiked carapace bristling with menace.
"Sirfetch'd! "
Oh my god! That thing could slice my leek to ribbons!
Outwardly calm, inwardly panicking, Sirfetch'd somehow maintained an intimidating aura against Brock's ace.
"That Kabutops," Jasmine murmured, "has Battle Armor—immune to critical hits."
"While Sirfetch'd holds a leek that boosts crit rates..."
Type advantage alone wouldn't guarantee victory.
Brock's voice rumbled like shifting tectonic plates:
"This Kabutops came to me while I guarded Pewter's fossil museum."
"I regret no choices made... Not even when Mt. Moon blocked my path."
"Endure... or cut through!" His eyes narrowed. "Kabutops, Liquidation!"
"Kabutops!" The fossil warrior charged, scythes scraping sparks across the floor.
In a blink, it leaped—water-wreathed blades arcing downward!
"Detect!"
Clang!
Sirfetch'd raised its shield. The metallic shriek left a visible crack.
"Sirfetch'd!"
It'll regenerate... but that still hurts my soul!
Lt. Surge observed grimly:Without landing Grass moves, type advantage means nothing.
And if Kabutops gains momentum...
Kabutops crossed its scythes. Deadly intent flashed in its eyes.
Night Slash!
It teleported behind Sirfetch'd for a decapitating strike!
"Behind you! Leaf Blade!"
Emerald light erupted from Sirfetch'd's leek.
The ensuing gust carried an oddly appetizing scallion fragrance.
"Sirfetch'd!" Eyes squeezed shut, it thrust backward blindly—
Kabutops barely dodged. A direct hit would've ended things instantly.
"Predicted my move..." Brock growled before commanding:"Stone Edge!"
The arena trembled violently.
"Kabutops!" Twin scythes struck the ground, sending jagged pillars erupting toward Sirfetch'd!
"This... is a Rock master's ultimate technique?" Maylene gulped.
No wonder he borrowed my arena...
Lt. Surge paled.
No way he'd wreck Pewter Gym like this!
"He never fought like this against me!" Ash gaped.
Jasmine's eyes widened as she anticipated Natsume's counter—
"Detect again!"
Timing it perfectly—
The instant before spikes impaled Sirfetch'd—
"Sirfetch'd!" It backstepped, eyes closed, then swung horizontally.
Crack!
A clean slash bisected the stone pillar diagonally!
"Since when could Sirfetch'd do that?!" Ash turned to Lt. Surge.
"It didn't," Surge said gravely. "He exploited the one-second Detect window."
Undeterred, Brock ordered: "Liquidation!"
Another watery slash came roaring in!
"Now! Grassy Glide!"
Sirfetch'd barely dodged, sacrificing its shield—
Then struck back with its leek!
Quadruple super-effective hit!
"Direct hit!" Ash gasped. "Leader Brock's ace actually—"
"Don't celebrate yet!" Lt. Surge smirked.
Kabutops's eyes blazed crimson. Its follow-up slash exploded with hydro force!
"Focus Sash kept Sirfetch'd standing," Jasmine noted. "True warriors embrace death..."
Sirfetch'd envisioned its upcoming Pokémon Center vacation.
First injury since joining the team...
Still better than daycare drudgery.
But if winning mattered to its trainer...
Maybe going all out feels good sometimes~
Shieldless, Sirfetch'd gripped its leek two-handed, ready to trade blows.
"Left side! Sand Attack!" Natsume suddenly called.
Stone Edge's aftermath had left the field dusty.
"Sirfetch'd!" Without hesitation, it scooped lime powder and flung it!
The blinding cloud made Kabutops miss its killing strike!
"Improvising mid-battle...?" Brock muttered, impressed.
"Accuracy drop from Sand Attack," Lt. Surge grumbled. "Since when did Natsume-sensei get lucky?"
Exhausted but triumphant, Sirfetch'd returned as Natsume sent out his ace—
"Blastoise!"
The arena's very air vibrated violently. Kabutops's watery blades destabilized.
"That pressure...!" Maylene trembled.
"Stronger than during the P1 Fighting Prix..." Jasmine analyzed.
As a former Rock specialist, she saw no counters.
"Don't underestimate that guy!" Lt. Surge laughed.
"He's tougher than a Muk-covered rock!"
"...That's not flattering," Maylene sweatdropped.
"Blastoise! ヾ(■_■)"
The tank Pokémon's overwhelming aura radiated outward.
Natsume subtly activated his Ripple Aura to complement the spectacle.
"At last..."
Brock closed his eyes.
Rock-types faced constant criticism—fragile, inaccurate, weak to common types.
Yet their virtues called to him:
Sturdy resilience. Rock Slide's flinch chance. Unbreakable grit.
This was the path he'd chosen as Kanto's premier Rock master!
"Go! Golem!"
The colossal Pokémon's landing shook the arena.
Lt. Surge twitched.
Easy to be reckless with someone else's gym!
"Golem against Blastoise...?" Jasmine puzzled.
Ash cheered: "Beat Natsume-sensei, Brock!"
Natsume and Blastoise scratched their cheeks in unison.
Why do I feel like the villain here?
"Ash taught me something," Brock said, eyes blazing rare passion.
"In battle, conviction outweighs type matchups!"
"Golem! Rollout!"
"Careful now," Natsume coughed.
"Water Gun."
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