c5: Nibi Gym – Takeo's Encounter
After walking for nearly an hour, Alex still hadn't found his way out of Viridian Forest, suggesting he had become lost.
Tired, sweaty, and his stomach grumbling from hunger, he continued trudging for another half hour when suddenly, a scruffy-looking man on the roadside waved at him.
Alex immediately took a few cautious steps back, instinctively on guard.
"You there, kid yes, you!" the man called out, grinning beneath his unshaven face. "Come here and take a look!"
Alex frowned and approached warily. "Who are you, old man?"
The stranger scratched his head. "Eh, just a humble stone merchant. Take a look, I've got all kinds of evolution stones, maybe even a fossil or two if you're lucky. Super rare, great deals!"
Alex narrowed his eyes at the man's haphazard haircut and squinty eyes. "Wait a second... aren't you Flint, Brock's dad? The guy who ran off and left the Gym in a mess?"
Flint chuckled nervously and tried to dodge. "W-What are you talking about? Flint? Never heard of him! I'm just a seller of quality geological products, heh..."
Alex crossed his arms. "If your stones are so valuable, why are you selling them on a forest trail instead of using them yourself?"
This was the same Flint who, in the Pokémon Adventures manga, once gave Ash guidance while disguised and later encouraged Brock to chase his own dreams. But here, he was back to his old tricks.
"Ah, well, young man, I can sense a destiny in you, y'know? So I'm offering a special deal!"
"Cut it out, Uncle Flint," Alex said sharply. "Your acting skills wouldn't even fool a Magikarp. You really just abandoned your family and expect to make money off trainers?"
"I told you, I don't know any Flint!"
Alex sighed. "You left Brock and the others to run the Pewter Gym alone. Doesn't that weigh on you at all?"
Flint's forced smile faded. He looked down, voice low. "I... I made a mess of things. The Gym, my debts... I don't deserve to go back."
"Running away doesn't solve anything," Alex said seriously. "Your son has taken on everything. Don't you think you owe him at least an explanation?"
Flint looked stunned. "Did Brock... send you to find me?"
"No. I'm just a Trainer from Pallet Town. I'm on my way to challenge the Pewter Gym."
He remained silent for a long moment, then whispered, "I'd only make things worse if I came back. He's doing fine without me."
Alex softened slightly. "He may be managing, but that doesn't mean he doesn't miss his father."
Flint looked up. "Miss me? Did... did he say that?"
Alex hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Yeah. He did."
Flint stood up straighter, determination returning to his features. "You're right. Enough running. Come on—we're going to Pewter City."
[System Alert]
Ding! Task Unlocked: Pewter Gym Challenge (Gold Tier)
Objective: Defeat Pewter Gym Leader
Reward: 1x Gold Lottery Ticket, 2x Bronze Lottery Tickets
Alex's eyes lit up. A gold-tier mission? That's a first. Wonder what the lottery might give hopefully something powerful.
Following Flint, Alex wound through the tangled forest path. Without Flint's guidance, it might've taken him hours longer to navigate the narrow trail.
Finally, the trees gave way to stone buildings and the looming cliffs of Pewter City.
"Thanks for helping me, kid," Flint said, pausing outside the city limits. "What's your name again?"
"Alex."
"Good name. Come on I'll take you to the Gym."
As they arrived at the Pewter Gym—its stone facade marked with the League's Poké Ball emblem Flint took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Anyone here?" Alex called out. "I'm a Trainer here to challenge the Pewter Gym!"
Footsteps echoed across the rocky interior as a familiar squint-eyed young man approached Brock, the Gym Leader, known for his maturity and devotion to his siblings.
"Wow... it's been a long time since a challenger came." Brock's voice caught in his throat as he spotted the figure behind Alex. "...Dad?"
Flint nodded. "It's me, son. I'm back."
"Where have you been all these years?" Brock said, rushing forward with tears in his eyes. "Your brothers and sisters missed you so much... I missed you!"
Flint pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry. I was a coward. But I'm here now."
The father and son stood there in quiet sobs, reunited at last.
Alex cleared his throat loudly. "Okay, okay, touching reunion and all, but I'm still standing here waiting to battle."
Brock wiped his eyes. "Ah! Sorry about that. This is Alex from Pallet Town, huh? Thank you he brought my father back."
"Alex, thank you," Brock said earnestly, shaking his hand.
"It's nothing," Alex said, trying to pull away from Brock's iron grip. Wow, this guy's handshake could crush a Poké Ball...
"Now, can we start the Gym challenge?"
Brock nodded. "Sure. But don't expect any favors just because you brought my dad home. I'll battle you seriously."
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
"I'll act as referee," Flint offered.
Flint stood between them, raising his hand. "This is a 3-on-3 Gym battle between Brock, Leader of the Pewter Gym, and Alex from Pallet Town. The challenger may switch Pokémon; the Gym Leader cannot. Begin!"
"Go, Geodude!" Brock called.
"Let's go, Dragonair!" Alex released his elegant dragon Pokémon, who soared into the air with grace.
Both Brock and Flint stared in shock. A Dragonair—a rare and elegant species was not what they expected from a rookie.
"Use Rain Dance!" Alex commanded.
Dragonair soared upward, summoning dark clouds. Rain began to fall in the Gym, saturating the field.
"Geodude, use Harden, then go in with Tackle!"
The rock Pokémon stiffened its body, then charged forward recklessly.
"Dodge it, then use Hydro Pump!" Alex countered.
Enhanced by the rain, the water-type blast exploded from Dragonair's mouth and struck Geodude head-on. The rain amplified its power significantly.
With a single hit, Geodude crumpled.
"Geodude is unable to battle!" Flint announced.
Brock's eyes narrowed. "This will be tougher than I thought…"
Xiaogang retracted Geodude and nodded. "Not bad. That Dragonair's really something. But let's see how it handles this next guy—go, Golem!"
"Dragonair, Dragon Rage!" Alex commanded instantly.
"Golem, Rollout! Dodge it!"
The boulder-bodied Golem spun rapidly, circling the battlefield with surprising speed, its Agility helping it narrowly evade the spiraling Dragon Rage.
"Alright then Dragonair, use your strongest Surf! Let's see you dodge this!"
Dragonair raised its head, summoning a massive wall of water that surged across the entire Gym floor, soaking every stone and crevice.
"Golem!" Brock called out, concern clear in his voice.
The deluge crashed into Golem, whose typing left it fatally weak to Water-type moves. As the waters receded, Golem lay motionless on the soaked terrain.
"Golem, thank you. You did your best." Brock recalled him solemnly.
"Time for my ace," he said, pulling out another Poké Ball. "Go, Onix!"
Brock's towering Onix emerged with a roar, its rocky coils stretching across the battlefield like a miniature mountain range.
"Come back, Dragonair," Alex said, withdrawing his Pokémon. "You've done enough. If it's Onix, then let's give him a fair match."
He threw another Poké Ball. "Let's go—Onix!"
Gasps echoed across the Gym. A monstrous giant Onix, easily twice the size of Brock's, crashed down with a thunderous roar. Its scales gleamed with mineral density far above normal.
"That's... that can't be..." Brock muttered in disbelief.
Flint narrowed his eyes. "It can't be... the giant Onix from Tea Mountain in Miya, can it?"
Alex smirked. "That's right. I caught it at Miya's Chashan caves, after days of effort."
Flint swallowed hard. He had once pursued that same Onix in his youth but failed. Now, seeing it here tamed he understood. His son had no chance in this match.
"Onix, Rock Throw!" Brock shouted.
Boulders launched from Brock's Onix toward the field.
"Giant Onix, deflect with Tail Whip!" Alex countered.
The massive Onix swept its tail with crushing force, sending the rocks flying back and blanketing the field in smoke and debris.
"What kind of monster is that..." Brock said, gritting his teeth.
"Let's finish it. Giant Onix, Tail Flick!"
The huge tail slammed into Brock's Onix, sending it skidding across the battlefield with a thunderous crash. Brock gasped.
"Onix, hang in there!"
Brock's Onix slowly got up, trembling but still able to battle.
Alex didn't hesitate. "Giant Onix, Earthquake!"
The ground split beneath Brock's Onix as tremors shook the Gym. The impact knocked out the smaller Onix instantly. Dust settled. Only Alex's Onix remained standing.
"Brock's Onix is unable to battle! The winner is Alex from Pallet Town!" Flint announced.
"Thanks, Onix. You gave it your all," Brock said, returning his Pokémon.
"That was a great match. You both gave it your best," Flint said sincerely.
"You're too kind, Dad. I still have a lot to learn," Brock said humbly. Deep down, he knew just how wide the gap between him and Alex truly was.
"No, Brock," Flint replied. "You fought brilliantly. Alex is just... something else. He doesn't battle like a rookie at all."
"Uncle Flint, you flatter me." Alex forced a modest smile, hiding a smug thought. Well, of course I'm strong having a system plug-in makes all the difference.
On the outside, he just said, "Maybe I just got lucky."
Brock, visibly stung, took 10,000 points of emotional damage.
"Alex," Brock said, stepping forward and opening a box. "This is the Boulder Badge of Pewter City. Please accept it."
Alex took the hexagonal, gray, metal badge shaped like a rock shard. Holding it up, he couldn't help but echo a certain iconic Trainer's cry:
"I got the Boulder Badge!"
Brock nodded. "I believe in you, Alex. You'll reach the top of the Pokémon world someday."
"Thanks," Alex replied. "I'll give it everything I've got."
After the Gym battle, Alex headed straight to the Pokémon Center and restored his team.
[System Notification]
Congratulations to the host for completing the Gold Mission: Pewter Gym Challenge.
Reward: 1x Gold Lottery Ticket, 2x Bronze Lottery Tickets. Initiate draw?
"Start the lottery," Alex said with anticipation.
The virtual prize wheel spun wildly.
[Results]
Elite-tier Metagross acquired.
10x Dragon-Type Energy Cubes
1x Leaf Stone
Alex nearly shouted with joy. Metagross the prized partner of Steven Stone, Champion of Hoenn in both the manga and the games.
"I really love you, Father System," Alex said shamelessly.
"Host, please show some self-respect," the system replied dryly.
Just then, a distant voice called out, "Alex!"
He turned to see a familiar messy-haired boy waving like crazy—it was Ash Ketchum, the loud, stubborn guy from Pallet Town.
Alex sighed. Here comes the chaos...
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