A gray badge?
The instant Ash's fingertips brushed the cold, rocky surface of the Boulder Badge, the pale blue system interface in the corner of his vision pulsed softly.
[Achievement: First Gym Challenge · Completed]
[Reward: Ability Capsule ×1]
[Effect: Can switch a dual-Ability Pokémon from its current Ability to its other Ability.]
An Ability Capsule?
Ash's thoughts jumped ahead at once—Togepi, Togekiss… Serene Grace and Hustle… that future Togepi egg…
This one had to be saved.
If it hatched with Hustle, he'd swap it to Serene Grace.
If it already had Serene Grace, he wouldn't touch it.
If it came with the Hidden Ability, Super Luck, that might be even better.
Why?
Because this wasn't a game.
In a world like this, buffing luck was insanely valuable.
Ash forced down the urge to start poking at the new item right there on the field and closed his fingers tightly around the badge.
The moment he took hold of it, the interface refreshed again.
A new [Badges] tab slid into place, showing eight empty slots.
One of them now held a tiny gray icon shaped like a jagged rock.
…The system UI and reality were separate. He couldn't pull the badge out of the interface, or shove it in.
[Pewter Gym · Boulder Badge]
[Effect: Slightly increases the Trainer's affinity with Rock-type energy (perception/resistance). Slightly reinforces base physical stats.]
A faint warmth seeped from the badge into his palm and spread through his whole body.
His limbs felt just a bit lighter. The "feel" of the rocky ground beneath his feet grew oddly familiar, as if something had just slid perfectly into place.
This badge… actually strengthened the Trainer directly?
Huh?!
Was he really getting pushed toward becoming some kind of "Super Pallet Rookie"?!
Ash smothered the shock bubbling in his chest and calmly pinned the badge to the inside of his jacket, right over his heart.
Cool stone pressed against his skin. He wondered, vaguely, if losing the badge would affect the system.
Probably not. It was an achievement, after all.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head, picking up on the subtle shift in its Trainer's presence.
"Congratulations." Brock's steady voice cut across Ash's thoughts.
He'd already recalled Graveler and walked over.
On Brock's stone-hard face was a rare, solemn respect. He held out his hand.
"Ash, your strength and your will are worthy of this badge—worthy of the recognition of stone itself."
"Thanks." Ash gripped his hand firmly, feeling the rough calluses and the weight behind his grip. "That was a really satisfying battle."
As for the damage their Pokémon had taken—well, that came with the job.
There was no such thing as an injury-free fight.
Misty ran over from the tunnel, orange ponytail bouncing, cheeks still flushed with excitement.
"Hey! That last move from Pikachu was just—ridiculous! How did you even pull that off?!"
She was very curious. Painfully curious.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu lifted its little head proudly.
This had nothing to do with Ash. Pikachu had done it itself, thank you very much.
"Luck. All luck," Ash deflected smoothly, laughing it off.
How had Pikachu pulled it off?
He had no idea either.
They'd have to sit down later, break the move down step by step—
And then polish it as much as possible.
Brock's gaze flicked to the spot on Ash's chest where the badge rested, then to Pikachu, then finally settled on Ash's face.
The eyes that were usually narrowed to slits opened slightly.
"Ash."
His voice was low and clear.
"From here on… I'd like your permission to travel with you."
The air froze.
"Huh?" Misty's jaw dropped.
Ash blinked. "Travel together? But you're Pewter's Gym Leader…"
"The Gym's day-to-day work will be handled by my father and mother." Brock didn't waver. "Stone needs to be weathered if it wants to become stronger. If I stay in one place, all I'll ever see is the rock at my own feet."
He paused, eyes burning brighter.
"And you, Ash—and your Pikachu… you showed me a higher vantage point."
"I want to see for myself just how far you can go."
Brock was, after all, only fifteen. Of course he wanted to go out and see the world.
And now that he had a perfectly reasonable excuse to hand off his responsibilities, why wouldn't he take it?
The Gym had so much work. Might as well dump it all on his useless old man.
His mom would keep him in check anyway.
That was how Brock saw it—simple and straightforward.
"This…" Ash started.
"Hahaha! Well said!" Flint's hearty laugh boomed from the entrance.
He clapped a heavy hand on Brock's shoulder, hard enough to knock him half a step forward.
"You little brat, you finally said something that sounds like a man! Go! A real man's ambition reaches beyond his hometown. Sitting on a Gym all day isn't a real accomplishment!"
Back in the day, Flint had done the same thing.
It was just that the Elite Four had been an immovable wall.
Forget becoming Champion—he hadn't even managed to join the Elite Four. In the end, he'd settled for being a Gym Trainer to scrape by.
Lola smiled softly. Her gaze drifted over Ash and Misty before settling on her son.
"Brock, you've grown up."
"Since you've decided, then go."
"The Gym will be fine with your father and me here. Don't worry." She paused, meaning deep under the warmth. "On the road… stay alert. Learn every chance you get."
Misty looked at Brock, then at Flint and Lola, and finally turned a very complicated stare on Ash.
"Hey… isn't your party getting kind of insane…?"
She knew very well she herself was a Gym Trainer.
And now Brock was joining them too.
Two Gym Trainers traveling with a supposed rookie?
Wasn't this lineup a bit too luxurious?
Ash looked at the family in front of him.
The determination in Brock's eyes, the easy support behind Flint's grin, the quiet weight under Lola's words…
Ah. So that's how it was.
This was the Professor's "arrangement," huh?
So Brock's parents were just going with the flow.
Was it finally time to move openly against Team Rocket?
Ash drew a deep breath and pushed his speculation down.
"Welcome to the team, Brock!"
"Please take care of us from here on out!"
Brock's face finally lit with a smile that belonged entirely to a fifteen-year-old boy.
He reached out, and his hand met Ash's in a firm, heavy shake.
Whatever plans the adults had behind the scenes—
That didn't really have much to do with them.
Adult business was for adults to worry about.
As for them, as kids, they only had to focus on one thing:
Get stronger.
"Pika!" Pikachu hopped back onto Ash's shoulder, tiny sparks popping from its cheeks like celebratory fireworks.
The heavy doors of Pewter Gym rumbled open. Sunlight poured in.
Even though they'd made their decision, there was no rush to leave.
Hanging out in Pewter for another day or two sounded good. There was no urgent deadline breathing down their necks.
And Gyarados was still injured. Rest came first.
While they were here, Ash would also put together a rehab plan for it, helping it gain finer control over its new body.
A few days later—
Ash, Misty, and Brock stepped into the sunlight, heading down the road toward the next city.
"Honey, I think their journey is going to be… complicated," Lola murmured.
"That golden Gyarados ended up leaking out after all… it might draw the attention of poachers, Team Rocket, that kind of crowd," Flint said, rubbing his chin.
"But Misty and Brock both have Gym-level ace Pokémon with them… and that kid Ash isn't weak either… They should be fine."
After all…
It wasn't like they were going to provoke the Elite Four. Or a Champion. Or a Legendary Pokémon.
Right?
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