Flint's sudden return gave Brock a choice: remain tied down as Pewter City's Gym Leader, or finally chase his true dream of becoming a Breeder.
After a few moments of silence, Brock stood firmly in front of his father. "Dad, I'm entrusting Forrest and the others to you. But first, you'd better listen carefully, I have a lot to say."
Flint nodded solemnly. He had braced himself for scolding, knowing he deserved it after abandoning his family for so many years. If his son needed to vent, he would accept it all.
But instead of yelling, Brock began firing off an endless list of his siblings' needs.
"Forrest likes red miso, Salvadore prefers white miso, and little Cindy loves mixed miso. Also..."
"W-wait, wait, wait! Let me get a notebook!" Flint panicked, fumbling in his pockets.
Within minutes, he had filled page after page with dietary quirks, bedtime routines, school schedules, and all the little habits of Brock's nine younger siblings.
By the time Brock finished, Flint's notebook was stuffed with more than a dozen pages of notes.
Ash and Misty exchanged a helpless glance. Flint had expected an angry outburst… but this list was heavier than any scolding.
It also spoke volumes about Brock's burden. To remember so many details, every favorite dish, every tiny quirk, how much responsibility had Brock carried alone all these years?
From the sidelines, Misty suddenly realized she was still clutching Ash's arm.
Her cheeks flared scarlet. She quickly leapt away, twirling her hair in forced nonchalance while sneaking a sideways glance at Ash.
Ash, however, hadn't even noticed, his full attention was still on Brock.
Misty's pretty face twitched.
The moment passed, and Brock, having finished his instructions, packed his bag and turned back to Ash. "You've seen how things are. So… would you be willing to let me travel with you?"
"Of course!" Ash answered instantly, grinning from ear to ear. "Having a Breeder on the team is amazing! And besides, you're a Gym Leader, you can teach me so much!"
"Heh, as long as I'm not a burden. As for the Gym Leader part..."
"Ah...ah...ahhh! Isn't it about time we headed for the next city?!" Misty cut him off in a panic.
Ash blinked at her strange reaction, scratching his head. "Huh? What's gotten into you?"
Only Brock understood. 'Misty… was hiding her own Gym Leader identity.'
And so, after saying farewell to Flint, the three of them set off together. The group had grown from two to three, but the change felt natural, if anything, things became easier.
Brock wasn't a licensed Breeder, but after years of raising siblings and managing the Gym, he was second to none at caring for both people and Pokémon.
Thanks to him, Ash and Misty no longer had to choke down instant food, and their Pokémon weren't stuck with bland, store-bought chow.
It would take some time for Brock to craft customized recipes for Pikachu and the others, but even the basics were a huge upgrade.
On the road, Brock asked curiously where Ash had picked up tactics like Sleep Powder and Supersonic.
Ash puffed out his chest. "Professor Oak taught me before I started my journey!"
Even Misty, who liked to tease Ash, knew Oak's reputation. Brock, of course, was no exception. Hearing that, his surprise faded. If it was guidance from the famous Professor Oak, then Ash's clever tactics weren't quite so unbelievable.
Still, Brock silently thought: 'Even with Oak's help, to pull them off this cleanly right after starting out… that takes talent.'
By the time they left Pewter City, it was already noon. Between Brock's careful packing and his endless instructions to Flint about the Gym and his nine siblings, they didn't actually hit the road until afternoon.
The summer sun blazed down mercilessly. Even Misty, dressed in a vest and shorts, was drenched in sweat. Halfway along, she finally gave up and sent out Staryu. "Staryu, Water Gun, straight up!"
"Staryu~!"
A refreshing spray rained down, cooling the group instantly. Ash and Pikachu spun in circles under the mist, laughing like kids at a water park.
As they dried off, the three began discussing their next destination.
There were three possible Gyms nearby: Viridian City, Cerulean City, and Vermilion City.
Viridian was an easy elimination, Ash had already passed through and missed his chance there. That left Cerulean and Vermilion.
Ash immediately leaned toward Cerulean. "It's perfect! First, it's a Water-type Gym, so Pikachu has the advantage. Second, once we're done, Vermilion's right down the road. It's basically on the way!"
"B-but…" Misty fidgeted, waving her hands. "The Cerulean Gym is way too easy! And… and the Leaders are scary women! Yup, super scary!"
No matter how Misty tried to dissuade him, Ash stood firm. Unless she gave him a solid explanation, there was no way he was skipping Cerulean Gym.
Brock just shrugged. "As long as it's not back in Pewter, I'm fine with anywhere."
So Cerulean City it was. To get there, they needed to cross Mt. Moon, a much smaller trek than Viridian Forest. At a steady pace, it would take only two or three days.
By evening, with the worst of the heat fading, they stopped to camp at the mountain's base. Hiking into Mt. Moon at night was too risky, and there was no need to rush.
That night, Ash and Misty finally tasted Brock's cooking for the first time.
The verdict?
"Heavenly!" Misty clasped her hands together.
"This is amazing, Brock! Compared to this, what we ate before was total garbage!" Ash stuffed his cheeks like a Munchlax. Pikachu mirrored him, sparks of joy dancing in its cheeks.
It was no wonder Brock had managed to raise nine siblings alone, his cooking was out of this world.
Ash quickly begged, "Brock, teach me how to cook! That way, if you ever have to go back to the Gym, I won't be stuck with instant noodles. And Pikachu and the others won't have to choke down bland Pokémon food anymore!"
Brock chuckled. "Of course. I'll be glad to pass on what I know."
After dinner, the three played with their Pokémon under the starlight, laughter echoing across the campsite. Eventually, one by one, they settled into their sleeping bags.
But for Ash, the night was just beginning, because that was when he logged into the group chat.