Chapter 15: Lunch  

We all walked over to Brock who poured us bowls of hot stew. I placed Cyndaquil on the ground, who immediately went over to one of the multiple bowls of Pokemon food that Brock had been kind enough to set up. 

We all sat down in a circle on the grass, eating and talking about practically anything that came to our minds as we made "new friends" with this familiar, yet unfamiliar group of people.  

It was almost awkward to hear my parents talk so openly about their wants and desires. Usually they were so focused on my own needs and their jobs that they never opened up about what they wanted, so it was weird seeing them like this. They were currently growing up without a kid to take care of, a gym to manage, or challengers asking for matches every day. They were just out having fun on their Pokemon journeys, carefree without a clue that they were having lunch with people that knew exactly what they would become when they grew up. 

Looking at photos of your parents in their old albums and thinking, "Wow, they were so nerdy back then!" or "Do you think they knew they'd grow up to marry each other?" was nothing compared to this. I was actually sitting across from my mom and dad twenty-five years in the past and they obviously didn't know what the future had cooked up for them. 

Of course, we all did, and we were probably caught staring in awe and disbelief every time we studied their characteristics, so like the ones they had now, but on younger faces. 

"So Brock's eyes actually have always been like that," Daniel whispered to me. I laughed, almost spitting out stew. 

Brock and Anthony were having a very intelligent discussion on Pokemon breeding. 

"Well, I haven't met many Breeders, but I have learned to make my own Pokemon food," Brock informed Anthony. 

"Yeah, it seems like all of our Pokemon love it." Anthony gestured over to our Pokemon who were munching happily away, depleting Brock's supply of gourmet Pokemon chow. 

"I use different blends for each type of Pokemon since each type has their own dietary needs," Brock continued. "So, do you have a goal after traveling around?" 

"Oh, I don't know." Anthony began concentrating fiercely at the fork in his hand. "I was thinking of being a Pokemon doctor. My mom is a nurse." 

Brock's smile became very glazed and distant upon that news.  

I looked over at my mom, who was chatting animatedly about Togepi with Amanda, "Yeah, Ash found Togepi's egg in Kanto. Brock carried the egg around and cared for it till it hatched, but since I was the first one Togepi looked at, she thought I was her mom so I got to keep her. Isn't that right Togepi?" 

"Pri, pri!" Togepi crooned, sitting on the ground with a piece of Pokemon food. Pikachu was talking happily to Bonnie, Amanda's Ampharos, and Thistle, Daniel's Jolteon. Every now and then I saw a spark of electricity rush from one to another, causing them to laugh as if it tickled or was the punch line of an inside joke. And maybe it was, but could only be heard in the current of energy. 

"That's so sweet! You know, they've discovered that Togepi evolves into Togetic, which can then evolve into a Togekiss. They're so graceful when they fly around. I've seen one before. They're beautiful." Amanda sighed happily. "I want to catch one someday." 

"Seems like everyone's getting along," Daniel said into my ear. I shrugged as I watched my dad eat his third bowl of stew with gusto, giving me the impression that he was going to eat enough for a herd of Tauros. 

After another half hour of chat, we all got up, stretched, and helped Brock clean the dishes before packing our bags. With all of our backpacks situated, my parents and Brock seemed content to just continue talking to us. Ash, especially, was still excited about all the Pokemon we owned. 

"What's that Pokemon?" He pointed to Fenrir. 

"Oh, that's my Flygon. He's a Dragon and Ground type who's excellent at flying. He's my baby of the group, I'd say," Amanda said lovingly as Fenrir sneezed, getting Ash's face wet with boogers. For some reason he didn't seem at all bothered. If anything, he seemed more interested in the Pokemon that had just plastered him with germy mucus.  

"Ash, clean off you face!" Misty complained, listening in on the explanation of all of our Pokemon. 

"Ok, I'll wipe it on you!" Ash grinned, chasing after her. "Come here, Misty!" 

"Bleh! Get away, or I'll punch you!" Misty backed up, getting ready to defend herself. 

I groaned. After a couple minutes they settled down enough to listen to the introduction of Amanda's Ampharos Bonnie, her Blastoise named Shell, Bella the Meganium, and Felicity the Gardevoir who hummed the entire time, floating lazily a couple inches off the ground like a beautiful maiden ghost. 

"I still can't believe you have a Typhlosion!" Ash went over to rub Zuko's head. "You must be a really good Trainer." 

I grinned. "Thanks, d-Ash." 

He blinked. "How come you keep going 'd-Ash'?" 

"Um," I stalled, "You look like a Dash?" 

"Oh, ok," Ash said. "I've never been told that before." 

"And I never knew you were once so gullible," I said under my breath. 

"What?"  

"Nothing," I said sweetly before continuing, "This is a Manectric. Reg is pretty full of himself, but he's amazing once you get to know him. No, don't touch his tail! Reg doesn't like-" 

Too late. Ash was shocked for the second time, screaming his head off as electricity coursed through his body. 

Pikachu face palmed himself, but ran hurriedly to his Trainer all the same to make sure he was ok. Ash stood up, looking exhausted. 

"Anyway, that's my Heracross who is a lot like yours, except she's a girl and doesn't mind wrecking a house for fun in search for honey or sap-" 

"How did you know I have a Heracross?" Ash interrupted me. "My Heracross is flying around here somewhere, but I haven't seen him since you guys showed up at the camp site. He's always looking for sap too." 

I stared at him, dumbfounded, feeling Daniel nudge my shoe from behind as if to say "Emma, don't blow our cover!" as if I didn't already know. I glanced at Brock who was busy inspecting Amanda's Blastoise, too far away to hear. 

"Brock told me when you almost passed out from your fourth bowl of stew," I answered hastily, trying to keep my expression smooth. 

"Oh. Yeah, I went a little overboard." Ash grinned sheepishly. "Ok, so who are your other Pokemon?" 

I took a deep sigh of relief before continuing, "That's a Breloom named Raptor who is a Fighting and Grass mix. Don't mess with him either. Most of my Pokemon are super... fragile in their own way. Like my Swampert over there, hiding in the river." I pointed to Manny, who was up to his neck in water as if trying to sink into the ground and disappear. "Lots of people and Pokemon in one place scare him. He's super shy and isn't much for socializing. He's more afraid of you than you are of him." 

"I highly doubt that," Ash said weakly, backing away from Reg who was still growling. 

"Behave, Reg. He's a friend," I said hopelessly. Reg gave me a frown, not understanding my attempt at a hidden message, and laid back down to snooze. 

"I just can't believe you have a Dragonite! They're so rare and hard to train," Brock complimented me as he walked over to study my Dragonite, Sadie. 

I felt my cheeks get a rush of color. "Thanks, Brock. Yeah, it took a lot of hard work, but Sadie is such a wonderful Pokemon. She's gentle, but a strong fighter." 

Pikachu was jumping over Sadie's tail as if it were a jump rope. She continued to purposefully move it up and down, looking happy that Pikachu was enjoying himself. 

"That's a Braviary named Fortis." Anthony pointed to his huge eagle-like Pokemon to Misty. "And you know Phantom already."  

Phantom flew in circles, singing shrilly, as Anthony continued, "That's a Krookodile named Snout. Don't worry, he's really nice despite how many teeth he has. He's a Dark and Ground mix- oh, and you know Aragog now." 

"What about your Water Pokemon?" Misty asked excitedly. 

"Oh, that's Conch, my Carracosta." Conch waved a flipper. "A Rock and Water Pokemon. He's super strong." 

"Wow, that's the same combination of types as my Corsola. Conch is such a wonderful looking Pokemon. Aren't Water Pokemon the best?" Misty gushed.  

I grinned, so used to her being passionate about Water Pokemon that I wondered how my dad hadn't gone crazy over the years of listening to her speeches. I looked over at my dad who was talking to Zuko, who looked extremely amused. 

"I'm going to catch all of these Pokemon, just you watch!" Ash promised, looking like he had enough energy in him to fly to the moon. Good to know my parents shared burning passions for Pokemon. 

"And last but not least is my Serperior, Rapier. He's a Grass Pokemon and my first partner." Anthony finished, "I guess it's Daniel's turn." 

"Finally!" Daniel grinned. "Ok, so I know my Pokemon I have with me are all Pokemon you know, but they're still awesome. Here's my Charizard named Smoky, you battled Snitch, my Jolteon Thistle- watch out for her spikes, Ash." 

"Thanks for the head's up." Ash smiled hesitantly at the Jolteon who looked up in curiosity before turning her gentle eyes to Daniel.  

"Oh." Daniel sighed, staring fondly at Thistle. "I've had her ever since she was a tiny egg." 

"Really?" Brock asked, interested. "How did you get that Pokemon egg?" 

"Uh..." Daniel rubbed his neck and gave me an anxious glance- Brock had given him the Pokemon egg in the future because, and I quote "Chicks dig guys with Pokemon eggs". If only I could nudge him and say "Daniel, don't blow our cover!" back to him. Daniel answered, "A friend gave it to me." 

"Sounds like your friend is really smart." Brock scratched Thistle's head. "Chicks dig guys with Pokemon eggs. You must've gotten plenty of PokeGear numbers." 

My friends and I shifted around nervously and Misty muttered to Ash, "Remind me to burn all of Brock's 'business' cards later today." 

"I'm not helping you find them," Ash whispered back. "He keeps them hidden in.... places." 

Misty frowned. "What sort of places?" 

Daniel, looking for something to cover our awkward moment, started introducing his Pokemon again, interrupting Ash's answer, "That's my Primeape Kiai-" 

"Is he going to beat us up?" Ash asked cautiously, unconsciously grabbing his hat's brim and tugging down as if to glue it to his head. 

"What? No." Daniel blinked in surprise. "Why would he do that?" 

"Oh, well, my Primeape always tried to... never mind." Ash hung his head. 

Daniel seemed unsure how to proceed after that, but continued slowly, "Last but not least, this is my first partner, Crikey the Feraligatr. I got him when he was just a little Totodile." 

Crikey grinned toothily as Pikachu climbed up his shoulder. The small, friendly Pokemon had been trying to meet everyone all throughout lunch. 

"You have a nice Water Pokemon too. Would you like to trade? You can have Psyduck," Misty begged Daniel, who stared back at her with concern. 

"No, he's not trading," I said fiercely. Misty gave me a curious glance, trying to figure out my change of attitude. She couldn't have a Pokemon she wasn't meant to have- I knew THAT would mess up the time stream. 

"Yeah. Crikey means too much to me, Misty. Sorry," Daniel apologized. 

"Well, I guess it's time to hit the road now that we know about all of your rare Pokemon." Brock picked up his backpack. 

"Awe," Ash said. He was now dangling from Rapier's tail, which was wrapped around his ankle. "I was just learning about Serperior." 

Rapier's eyes glittered with laughter at Ash's comment. After watching Ash's hair fall off his forehead, Rapier set him back on the ground gently, then looked at Anthony with concern. 

Anthony whispered to me, "Rapier has no idea why a Snivy would ever let Ash train it." 

I giggled. "Yeah, it does seem pretty...." 

"Impossible," Anthony filled in. I laughed. 

"Hey, since you guys want to battle Pryce too, why don't you head with us to Mahogany?" Misty picked up her own bag, placing it securely over her shoulders. 

"Oh, um..." I pulled my hair, feeling awkward. I looked at the others, trying to communicate to see if they thought we should go with them or not. We still hadn't asked about time traveling yet and we were stuck here till we figured out a better plan. The others nodded, so I said, "That's a great idea. We'd love to join you." 

The walk to Mahogany really didn't take long at all. We made it there by sundown, right as the orange sky began turning a deep, dark red. 

"Finally, we can sleep on some beds," Misty said excitedly, hurrying toward the Pokemon Center. 

"We're resting here too, right?" Anthony asked me. 

"Why do I always have to decide?" I frowned. 

"Because we're traveling in the past with your parents, so technically their kid, who is older than them, is our chaperone." Daniel smirked. 

I scowled. "Will you quit that?" 

"Let's just stay here, Emma. I'm still tired from everything." Amanda patted my shoulder and walked through the doors to the Pokemon Center with my parents and Brock. 

Yawning, I walked into the doors to witness a very chaotic scene. Brock seemed to be having some sort of fit.  

"Talk about Nurse Joy using Attract," Daniel whispered to me. 

"Oh, Nurse Joy, I've just found out I only have six months to live." Brock leaned over the counter so far that Nurse Joy almost stumbled backwards. She hadn't known he was there. 

Composing herself, she exclaimed with concern, "Oh! I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?" 

"Well, you could marry me so I know what it's like to have a woman-" Brock was cut off by Misty. 

"Seriously, Brock, the only thing you're going to know is what it feels like to be slapped by a woman." She dragged Brock away from the counter, his shoes' squeaking in protest from the friction on the tiles 

He called, "I'll dream about you tonight, Nurse Joy!" 

"I have to add more security around here," she mumbled. 

"Well, that was...." I trailed off. 

"Extremely funny." Daniel snickered. 

"Let's just go to bed already, I feel like I'm hallucinating." Anthony sighed. 

"When did that start? Just now or when we time traveled?" Amanda asked. 

"What do you think?" Anthony gave a small smile.

Hey Readers!

I hope you enjoyed the update. I know it was a lot of talk about everyone's Pokemon, but these Trainers have some amazing partners with personalities of their own and I feel like Pokemon doesn't always do a very good job of capturing how each Pokemon has their own personality just as a human would. 

This chapter is dedicated to JakeSteinberg16 for always being a fan and having a very large obsession with Dawn and Piplup. Yet he still reads this story even though Dawn isn't in "the present". He has no idea what happens to her in MY Pokemon world. Muahahaha (nothing bad, I promise). 

Thanks for reading! Please comment, vote, and/or follow if you think I am WORTHY. And now I'm thinking of Pain and Panic- "We are WORMS!" Just FYI- I'm not a worm. ...There isn't a worm Pokemon yet, is there? I hope Pokemon never sinks that low... lower than DIRT. Literally. Since worms live... you get it.

Pokemon Question of the Day: Do you think Brock would have ever gotten a girl and settled down? I think Misty would say no without even needing to think about it :P

Have a great day!

-Flips