Brock Gonna Rock You Part 1
"Hello." Humans
"Pika-chu." Pokémon addressing humans
"Hello." Pokémon addressing Pokémon
Scott looked over the Gym Leader as he made his way to the back of the Gym. A small alcove of rock was carved out which contained a whole series of Pokéballs. Instinctively, almost robotically he grabbed the first two on a line of six.
"I take it you're going to go easy on the kids today?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow above his large sunglasses inquisitively.
Brock smiled. "Of course. It wouldn't be right to be too rough with beginners. That's not how a Gym Leader does things." He replied, putting his two Pokéballs on his belt.
"I knew the league chose right in putting you in here, Brock. Your father would be proud." Scott said calmly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Brock nodded and took a deep breath. "Thanks, Scott." He replied with a smile before going to head down.
While this was going on, things were less civil. Gary and Lillie groaned as Ash and Isaac were on the verge of blows. The two staring into each other's eyes with the fires of determination.
"I'm going first, Isaac!" Ash yelled; his fist clenched already.
"No way, Ashy-Boy! I'm the more experienced trainer! I'm going first!" Isaac replied, his fist clenched as well.
"Only Gary gets to call me that, Bushido for Brains! You have yet to earn that!" Ash snapped back.
Isaac glared at Ash. "Then it appears that there's only one way to settle this little gentlemen's dispute." He said, pulling his fist back with his hand cupped over it.
"Oh, you're on! Prepare to face eternal dishonor!" Ash shot back, cupping his own fist.
"I can't look! Snowy, don't look! It's gonna be too violent!" Lillie shrieked in fear, covering both her and her Pokémon's eyes. Even if Snowy desperately wanted to see.
Gary and his Squirtle, on the other hand, each got out a bag of popcorn. "This is gonna be good…!" Gary chuckled.
Pulling back, Ash and Isaac prepared themselves. Then, with all their might they roared before getting ready to throw their hands. "ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS, SHOOT!" They both bellowed as they threw their hands forward.
They both drew Scissors. "TIE, GO AGAIN!" They bellowed before going again.
Lillie took her hand off her eyes in confusion. "... What's going on?" She asked, blinking a few times.
"They're playing Rock-Paper-Scissors to see who goes first." Gary replied, watching in anticipation.
"TIE, GO AGAIN!" Ash and Isaac bellowed, as both had tied again with paper.
"All this over Rock-Paper-Scissors? I thought they were going to beat each other up!" Lillie shrieked.
Gary chuckled. "Of course not. They're hotheaded, not stupid." He replied, watching in anticipation to see who would get to go first.
"Well, one of them, anyways." Benjamin said from behind them as the rest of the class watched. "How did Professor Oak let that Ash guy be one of his head pupils anyways?"
"Ash and I grew up together and Ash is great with the Pokémon." Gary explained.
"He is?" Benjamin asked in surprise.
The other two nodded as Ash and Issac threw their hands again. "TIE, GO AGAIN!" They called out, having both chosen Scissors.
The two chanted one final time, and finally Isaac struck the killing blow. Throwing out a Scissors to Ash's paper, he smiled in victory before bowing to his defeated foe. All while Ash grumbled and grit his teeth at his loss.
"Damn it…" Ash growled. Pikachu hopped out of his backpack to comfort his trainer with small pats to his head.
"Pika, Pika, Pika." Pikachu said with some mild sympathy.
Ash smiled. "Thanks, buddy." He replied.
"Do not worry, Ash. I will make sure to speak up for you in the face of your eternal dishonor." Isaac said with a smile.
"You better win now." Ash growled.
"That's the plan." Isaac said as he stepped forward towards the arena.
Stepping down to the arena, still bearing the scars of the battle with Dusk, Isaac saw Brock walk down. Wearing a green vested shirt and his orange-brown pants, the two locked eyes. Ash and the rest of the students made their way into the stands to watch. As Scott joined the children, sitting next to the teacher, Brock spoke up.
"So, you two finally figured out who would face me first, I see." Brock said, looking over Isaac as he stepped into the trainer chalk box.
Isaac smiled. "We did. Granted it was luck of the draw on my part." He replied, reaching for one of his Pokéballs.
"Well then, let's see how well you fare." Brock said as he entered a stance with his arms crossed over his chest.
"The battle between the Pewter City Gym Leader and the Challenger Isaac of Veilstone City will commence. Trainers, choose the first of your two Pokémon!" The Ref called after he made it to his position.
Gripping his Pokéball, Brock threw it out above the field with Gusto. "Go, Geodude!" He roared.
Out came the round, rocky Pokémon gave a big smile with its wide mouth. Its muscular arms flexed as it readied itself. Isaac tensed a bit. This was it. The most important Pokémon battle of his life was up to this point. It was now or never.
Expanding his Pokéball, Isaac tossed it with a spinning throw. "Zaraki, front and center!" He called out as the ball soared into the arena.
The scarred Mankey took to the field and immediately pounded his chest and the ground before him. Unusually for a Mankey, he initially remained silent, preferring to stare at his opponent with his arms crossed as his tail slapped the ground behind him. Geodude returned the favor, creating a stare down between the two.
Brock smiled a bit. "A Mankey, huh? And one that's seen its fair share of battles." He replied, noting the appearance of strength the Pig Monkey Pokémon had.
"He is the leader of a whole troop. Believe me, it wasn't easy to catch him." Isaac replied with a smile.
"Then let's see how well he has developed with you then." Brock answered, before giving the Ref a look.
The ref raised the green flag above his head, before looking at both parties, and then swung it down firmly. "Begin!!" He cried out.
"Let's start off the right way! Tackle attack!" Brock ordered, throwing his hand forward.
"Geo-dude!!" The Rock-type cried out before surging forward with his shoulder first.
"Catch it, Zaraki!" Isaac called out.
Putting his hands out, Zaraki caught the Tackle attack head on. This resulting tactic stopped Geodude's momentum while the Mankey barely budged an inch, much to the surprise of Brock and Geodude.
"Stronger than expected. Then I guess we will have to hit harder. Power through with Bulldoze!" Brock roared.
"Lift it up, then slam it into the dirt and use Low Kick!" Isaac called out with a smirk.
As Geodude began to glow orange, Zaraki hefted him up on his Pig Monkey shoulders. "Maaaan… KEEEEY!" Zaraki roared as he slammed Geodude into the ground back first, preventing the Bulldoze from being used.
"Geo!?" Geodude called out in disbelief as he tried to squirm out of the ground, stuck.
"Whoa…" Brock replied, impressed with the strength of the Fighting Type.
"MAN-KEY!" Zaraki called out as he swung his leg out low in a sweeping kick, slamming into Geodude and sending him out of the crater he was planted in.
Skipping across the ground like a skipping stone across a river, Geodude crashed against the floor of the arena. Crying out in pain as he did, the Rock-Type Pokémon crashed into a rock. Struggling to get up, he winced in pain.
"Nicely done, Zaraki!" Isaac told the pig-nosed primate Pokémon.
"Mankeyyyyy!" Zaraki howled, pounding his fists on his chest.
Geodude struggled to get up as he shook his head, trying to clear out the cobwebs from that attack. As he did, Brock smiled a bit at the Mankey and his trainer.
"You can hit hard. But let's see how well you can take a hit. Use rollout!" Brock ordered forcefully.
"Geoooooo-DUDE-DUDE-DUDE-DUDE!!" Geodude called out as he rolled into a ball and spin to roll right at Zaraki.
"Slide into it and use Low Kick!" Isaac called out.
"Mankeyyyy!" Zaraki called out, rushing right in at Geodude.
"Is that going to be enough?" Lillie asked her friends.
"It's hard to say." Gary muttered.
"Yeah. That Mankey of Isaac's is strong, no doubt about that. But Brock's Geodude is no pushover to endure that Low Kick like that." Ben noted with the critical eye of a Fighting-Type trainer.
Sliding, Zaraki swung with his leg in a Low Kick. The Low Kick slammed into Geodude, forcing him into a rolling spin away from him. However, Zaraki flinched a bit as he did so, clearly having gotten hurt from taking the Rollout to his leg.
"Zaraki!" Isaac called out in pain as Zaraki tried to stand on his leg while Geodude crashed through a boulder.
As the dust settled, Geodude was seen unconscious from the impact. Groaning in pain, Geodude had clearly been defeated. This sudden development caught everyone off guard, and most of the class was murmuring at what happened. Scott, however, grew a smile at seeing this, and Isaac's friends got incredibly happy. But most shocking of all was a smile out of Brock.
"It looks like our hotblooded samurai got too ahead of himself. Zaraki's gonna have trouble with Onix with that leg injured." Scott noted to the crowd.
"He's still got a Pokémon in the wings. He's still got this!" Ash cheerfully said.
"Zaraki, come back for now!" Isaac told him, pulling out his Pokéball to call him back.
"Mankey!" Zaraki called out, holding his hand up in refusal.
This surprised Isaac, but he smiled as he sensed his Pokémon's feelings. "I get it. If you're going to lose, your pride as a Fighting Type demands you go down swinging rather than retreat." He noted as Zaraki nodded.
"Admirable. Admirable indeed." Brock said with a smirk as he gripped his shirt. "But it's not going to be enough against my next rock-hard assault!"
To most of the people's shock, Brock then ripped his shirt off, exposing his heavily chiseled body underneath. Soon he crossed his arms in front of him stoically as he prepared his second Pokémon.
"Why did you… it doesn't matter! Bring it on, Brock! If Zaraki's not backing down, then neither will I!" Isaac called out as Zaraki forced himself to stand.
"Then let's do this! Go, Onix!" Brock cried as he threw the Pokéball.
Bursting from the light came the colossal rock snake. Its towering frame made it more intimidating for the two of them than they expected. However, they stood their ground. The Referee again looked at the two sides before lifting the green flag.
"Begin!" He cried out as he dropped the flag rapidly.
"Zaraki, leap across the rocks! Try to off balance it!" Isaac called out.
"Mankey!" Zaraki called out as he began leaping from rock to rock in an attempt to confuse Onix.
"Let's give it a few more rocks, Onix. I think the battlefield is a bit bare. Use Rock tomb!" Brock ordered with a small smile.
With a thunderous roar, Onix began to form great rocks above its head in flashes of white light. A nod of its great crested head was enough to send a titanic shower of great rocks towards Zaraki.
"Jump across the Rock Tomb and go for a Low Kick, Zaraki!" Isaac called out.
"Mankey!" Zaraki howled as he began leaping across the rocks of the rock tomb, going from one to the other as he tried to confuse Onix while building up momentum.
Leaping from flying rock to flying rock, Zaraki began building speed. Bit by bit, he disoriented Onix before leaping down. Sliding into a Low Kick, Zaraki slammed his good foot into Onix hard. The giant rock snake cried out in pain as the force of the hit sent him tumbling down to the ground. The earth beneath them shook as Onix hit the ground hard.
"Not bad! Not bad at all! All right, Onix! Let's test how strong this little guy really is! Use tackle!" Brock ordered, throwing his hand forward.
Getting itself up and shaking off bits of dirt, Onix used its coiling to wind up speed and momentum. By the time Zaraki had landed, the colossal serpent was barreling towards him like a freight train. The sheer sight of it caused many to look away in horror.
"There's no time to dodge, so catch it and endure, Zaraki!" Isaac called out.
"Maaaan…!" Zaraki howled as he braced for impact.
Bracing his good leg back, Zaraki put his hands out and caught Onix's Tackle attack. However, unlike with Geodude, the force was much greater. Zaraki's muscles strained against the rock snake's bulk and power as he tried to hold him back as the force slowly pushed him back. Seeing Zaraki holding his own for the moment, the others could only marvel at the brute strength of the Pig Monkey Pokémon.
"That thing is stronger than he looks! Hold the line, Zaraki!" Ben called out from the crowd.
"You got this, big guy! If you can take me, you can take that brute!" Ash yelled, causing many to look at him. "What? We fought in a tree."
"You can do it, Zaraki!" Lillie called out in encouragement.
"Vul!" Snowy called out.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu cried out, waving his fat arms like little flags.
Bracing himself with all his might, Zaraki managed to just barely stop the force of Onix's Tackle attack. Then, with a forceful push, Zaraki threw Onix backwards, causing it to stagger. However, Isaac noticed on the Gym Leader's face does not fear, but a small knowing smile. As if he caught something that Isaac had not. Looking at his own Pokémon, he could see that Zaraki was panting heavily, barely standing after stopping the monstrous force like that.
"We can't take another Tackle like that head on and expect to be able to stop it again. Not with one of Zaraki's legs messed up. We need to finish it with this next move…" Isaac muttered, gritting his teeth.
"This is bad. Zaraki's out of juice. He can't keep going like this. If he was a Primeape, sure, but this is too much for any Mankey to take." Gary explained worriedly.
"Can't he switch him out?" Lillie asks.
"Even if Zaraki would let him, he's so tired that he wouldn't recover enough to finish Onix. He has to stand his ground here and hope to whittle him down." Ash answered stoically.
"Ash is right. If Zaraki's leg wasn't out of commission, it wouldn't have taken as much out of him to stop that Tackle. And, knowing Fighting Types like I do, Zaraki's pride will never let him retreat from a battle. They've gotta end this with their next move." Ben said, his face set in a grim frown.
"You kids are forgetting one thing. He's up against a Gym Leader. And Brock may be the first you have to face, but he's a stone-cold bruiser. If you give him an inch, he will bulldoze a mile." Scott chipped in, further worrying the rest of the crowd.
"Finish this with another Tackle!" Brock ordered.
"ONNNNN!" Onix roared as it coiled for a lunge.
"Dodge and use Low Kick, Zaraki!" Isaac called out, hoping beyond hope that this worked.
"MAN-KEEEEY!" Zaraki howled, preparing to jump.
As the great rock snake surged forward, Zaraki jumped out of the way, only barely making it. However, as soon as he landed, Brock then yelled out an order that caught everyone off guard.
"Use that momentum to go into a Bind, Onix!" Brock ordered.
"Zaraki, watch out!" Isaac called out as Onix roared before beginning to coil around the Pig Monkey Pokémon.
Zaraki did not get any time. As soon as the Tackle missed, Onix turned his body into a wide arcing turn. Round and round, almost hypnotically he went, before violently wrapping itself around him. Immediately, pain shot through Zaraki's body as his leg was aggravated.
Coil after coil crushed at him. Zaraki tried blow after blow to break free, but it was no use. He slowly went limp, and only then did Onix let go. With the last of his strength, Zaraki tried in defiance to stand, but was simply too much. His knees bent and buckled, and he fell face first into the dust covered rock below.
"Zaraki is unable to battle, this round goes to Onix!" The ref yelled, raising a flag in Onix's direction.
Walking up, Isaac went to rouse his Mankey. Looking up, Zaraki groaned in pain. But, as injured as he was, what hurt most was his pride. Sensing this, Isaac gave him a smile. "It's okay, Zaraki. You gave it your all and I'm proud of you." He told his pig-nosed primate.
"Man… Mankey…" Zaraki weakly replied, before finally letting Isaac put him back in his Pokéball.
"Zaraki put up quite a fight. Though I question the wisdom of trying to stop a frontal charge from an Onix." Brock said, an encouraging yet inquisitive tone ringing through.
Looking down at Zaraki's ball after calling him back, Isaac gave a small smile as he shrank it down and put it back on his belt. "Your Onix is much faster than it looks, Brock. We had no other choice but to try." He noted with a hint of admiration.
"Well then. Shall we continue?" Brock asked with a smile.
Isaac nodded and walked back to his side before pulling out another Pokéball. "I was hoping you wouldn't need to battle in this Gym, but we have no choice. Let's go, Blaze!" He called out, holding the ball up as it opened with a flash of blue light.
"Charmander Char!" She cried out, her tail flame blazing brightly.
"So, he went with the fire lizard over the bird, I see. Smart choice." Gary said with a sigh.
"Can Blaze do this…?" Lillie asked worriedly.
"If he wants to win, she has to." Ash grimly answered.
"Begin!" Cried the Ref as he waved his green flag.
"Blaze, hop onto the rocks and use Flame Charge to keep jumping from one to the other!" Isaac called out.
"Charmander!" Blaze cried out, jumping onto a rock before lighting ablaze with flames.
"Let's try this again! Use Rock Tomb, Onix!" Brock ordered.
"OOONNIIXXX!" The great rock snake roared before forming rocks above its head.
"Dodge them, Blaze! Stay on the move!" Isaac called out.
"Maaaan-DER!" Blaze called out, leaping from rock to rock to dodge the stones thrown down by Rock Tomb.
Soon the great shower of massive rocks slammed into the arena. Blaze did her best to leap and dodge them, though there was a marked difference between her and Zaraki. With her progress slowed, Isaac needed to think of something quick, or another Rock Tomb may get her. It was then that he got an idea.
"Flame Charge again, then into a Metal Claw!" Isaac called out, surprising Brock.
"CHAAAAR…!!!" Blaze cried out, lightning ablaze again before her claws shone like metal in the fire light.
"Trap her in with another Rock Tomb!" Brock rapidly ordered.
"ONNNNN!" Onix roared out, calling up more rocks.
"Cut through them, Blaze!" Isaac called out with a smile.
"Char-Char-Char-Char-mander!" Blaze cried out before beginning to slash through the rocks.
"Look at them go!" Ash yelled excitedly.
Blaze, now faster than before, ducked, dodged, and sliced her way through rock after rock. Her shining metal claws blazing with the fire energy that wreathed her. Then, with a mighty leap, closed the distance and slashed Onix. The speed and typing gave it enough power to cause Onix to roar and stagger backwards, leaving a visible, burning mark on his rocky hide. Soon however, they saw the mighty stone leviathan begin to pant. The two battles were clearly beginning to take their toll.
"Keep on him, Isaac! Go for broke!" Ash yelled, which caught everyone, even Isaac off guard.
Smiling, Isaac nodded. "One more time, Blaze! Burning Claw Charge!" He called out, giving the new maneuver a name.
"Char-Charp-Char-Charrrr-mander!" Blaze cried out, building up flames before letting her claws shine with metal as she charged in.
"Counter it with a tackle Onix!" Brock roared.
With a thunderous roar, Onix used its great tail to propel it forward with great speed. The two attacks collided in the middle of the ring, the air pressure from Onix's mighty Tackle being heated up by the flames of Blaze's Flame Charge. Blaze's claws shone brightly as she pushed back. Seeing that they had to break the clash, Isaac got an idea.
"Spin around it, Blaze! Slash against its sides!" Isaac called out, much to the shock of the Rock-Type Gym Leader.
"What!?" Brock exclaimed in shock.
Twisting its body, Blaze spun around to Onix's side. Without an opposing force to keep it in place, the momentum of Onix's Tackle carried it forward, leaving it open on its sides. Bringing its claws up crossed in front of it, Blaze cut into Onix with multiple, burning, crisscrossing slashes across its body. Onix cried out in pain as the burning slashes hit it hard, causing immense pain.
The surging momentum of the Tackle forced Onix into a crashing dive, skidding across the rocky floor. Charred claw marks littered its rocky hide as steam billowed from the fresh wounds. It began to rise, its crested head beginning to tower over Blaze again. She gulped in fear, as after all that it still somehow was able to rise. But then, it flinched and lost its strength. Crashing down to the floor in a colossal heap, creating a massive dust cloud and rattling the Gym as it did. Everyone looked on in shock, until Brock gave a smile and a nod to the Referee.
"Onix is unable to battle! Blaze wins! The victory goes to Isaac of Veilstone City!" The ref cried out, pointing his red flag over to Isaac.
"Allll right!" Isaac called out in joy.
Brock began to clap as he walked towards him. "Well done, young man. That was quite the impressive, improvised display there." He said before offering him his hand.
Isaac blushed a bit and smiled sheepishly. "I was kind of taking a page from my friend Ash's book… but thank you." He replied, taking Brock's hand and shaking it.
"There is no shame in trying the tactics of others. Anyone whose pride prevents them from seeing brilliance in others will not get far. Just like how you and your Pokémon need to work together." Brock answered him with a smile. "I have to say, that is quite a well-bred Charmander you have. Rarely are their scales that luscious."
Isaac smiled proudly. "Thanks. I have no idea why she was abandoned, but, as the grandson of a breeder, I know a well-bred Charmander when I see one." He told Brock.
"A fellow breeder? Well, I never thought I'd see that day. We are indeed a rare breed around here, Isaac. But don't let that discourage you." Brock answered with a smile.
"I won't. Thank you for the battle and your praise, Brock." Isaac said with a proud smile.
Brock smiled and then pulled out from his pocket a small badge. It was glossy, well laminated, and in the shape of a well-cut boulder. Brock then put it in his hand gently.
"For your performance today, you deserve this Boulder Badge. Congratulations." Brock told him with a big smile.
Isaac smiled excitedly as he accepted the badge. "Thank you. You see, Blaze? We did it! You were incredible out there!" He said, kneeling down to show his Charmander.
Happily, Blaze leapt up and hugged Isaac, crying tears of joy at the praise. Smiling, Isaac hugged the fire lizard Pokémon back as he gently rubbed her back. Standing up, he gently set Blaze down as he took out a badge case. Putting the badge in its place in the first slot, Isaac smiled proudly.
"We will take a fifteen-minute break as I see to my Pokémon's health! Then the next Gym Battle will begin!!" Brock announced before leaving the arena.
Ash stood up and cracked his knuckles, grinning greatly. "Don't worry. I'll be ready." Ash said with a smile.