"Why do you, a Gym Leader, have something only a Breeder would carry?" Misty asked curiously, her eyes widening as she flipped through the notebook.
In the Pokémon world, Trainers came in many forms, Gym Leaders, Battlers, Coordinators, and more. But there were also professions outside of battling, and among them, none was more respected than Breeders.
Breeders were specialists dedicated to raising Pokémon and improving their health and condition. Behind many powerful Trainers stood a Breeder, or the Trainer themselves might dabble in breeding. With their help, a Pokémon could grow faster, recover quicker, and reach levels of strength that ordinary training alone couldn't achieve.
But becoming a Breeder wasn't easy. It wasn't enough to just make a nice meal or give a Pokémon a massage. True Breeders had unique methods that let Pokémon surpass their natural limits. Special Pokémon food, for example, could heal a weakened partner to peak condition in an instant. If recipes like the ones Brock had were mass-produced, they'd be priceless treasures for both Trainers and Breeders.
Brock gave a wry smile. "Actually… my real dream is to become a Breeder."
He sighed and explained. Despite being only in his early twenties, Brock carried a heavy burden. With his father chasing a Champion's dream and his mother gone traveling, the Pewter Gym and nine younger siblings all fell to him to care for. That meant keeping the Gym running while also raising his family, leaving no time to pursue his own dream.
"So I want to entrust this dream to you, Ash," Brock said, his voice firm despite the helpless smile. "If it's you, I think you can balance being both a Trainer and a Breeder. These food recipes I've researched over the years can help your Pokémon grow stronger, recover faster, and train more effectively. Even if you don't want to become a Breeder yourself, this notebook will still support you on your journey."
Ash stared at the notebook in his hands, silent for a moment. His eyes burned with determination.
In truth, he had already been thinking about becoming a Breeder. The Insight Eye that helped him see a Pokémon's abilities and potential, that came from Breeder Ash in the chat group. That same mentor had patiently taught him about raising Pokémon with care and precision.
Ash clenched the notebook against his chest. "Alright. I'll take it, and I'll live up to your trust."
After all, if he was the only one in the group who could discuss breeding at a professional level, then he'd shoulder that responsibility too. To become a true Pokémon Master, he couldn't just battle, he had to understand how to raise his partners to their peak.
Just then;
BANG!!
The heavy doors of the Gym suddenly swung open, crashing against the walls.
"Wah!!" Misty yelped, startled by the noise. Without thinking, she leapt sideways and clung tightly to Ash's arm, pressing against him with wide, panicked eyes.
Ash and Brock both turned at the sound of the heavy doors slamming open.
"I heard everything you just said, Brock. Go on, pursue your dream with everything you've got! I'll take over the Gym."
A deep, rough voice echoed from the doorway.
The bright light spilling in from outside gradually dimmed, revealing the figure of a scruffy man. He wore a low-brimmed hat that shadowed his face, a fake beard covering his jaw, and a pair of stained work gloves that made him look like a miner or a laborer.
Misty blinked. "Huh? Who's this guy? And why is he saying he'll run the Gym?"
Brock froze. His expression shifted, surprise, then disbelief, then a flicker of hope. "Wait…could it be…?"
The man tugged off his hat and beard in one motion, his true face finally revealed.
"That's right," the man said, voice trembling now. "I am… your father. Flint."
Ash and Misty's jaws dropped in unison. Their eyes darted between Brock and the man who looked almost identical to him, same sharp eyes, same rugged features.
『Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)』
"F-Father…?!" Brock's voice cracked with shock. "It's really you… After all these years… why return now?"
Flint's shoulders slumped, and his story poured out.
Years ago, he'd left home chasing a dream, to become an Elite Four member, maybe even a Champion. He wanted to prove himself as more than just a Gym Leader's stand-in, so he set off with a few of the Gym's Pokémon. But the reality was harsh.
"The Indigo League wouldn't even let me enter," Flint admitted bitterly. "Too old. Too many restrictions. So I tried the other Leagues, their tournaments are fierce, far tougher than I ever imagined. Even the strongest Gym Leaders can't guarantee victory there. And me… I couldn't even reach the finals."
His hands clenched into fists. "In the end, I failed. No titles, no glory. Nothing."
When he finally dragged himself back to Pewter City, he discovered that Brock's mother had left too, leaving only young Brock to shoulder the Gym and care for all nine of his younger siblings.
"I couldn't face you," Flint confessed, voice breaking. "I had no right. So instead… I stayed close, but from the shadows. I set up a small stall near the Gym, selling the ore and stones I dug up. I watched you from afar, waiting for the day you might stumble… so that I could step in and redeem myself by helping you."
His eyes softened, filled with regret and pride all at once. "But you never stumbled, Brock. You carried the Gym. You raised your brothers and sisters. You grew stronger than I ever was. You didn't need saving."
Brock's fists trembled at his sides. "All this time… you were right here? Watching?"
Flint nodded. "Yes. And when I heard you just now, saying you wanted to chase your own dream, I knew it was finally time. Let me do what I should've done from the start. Let me take back the Gym. And you, Brock… go live the life you deserve."