Chapter 37: Training Pokémon
The next day, Brock and the others arrived at the beach.
"Brock, are we really staying here to train Pokémon? Aren't we continuing towards Vermilion City?" Ash asked Brock curiously, standing on the beach and looking out at the ocean.
Hearing Ash, Brock also looked out at the ocean and replied firmly, "That's right."
Seeing Brock's determined tone, Ash didn't say anything further and just continued gazing at the sea.
Meanwhile, Misty, standing nearby, asked doubtfully, "Brock, then how long are we going to train here?"
Melanie and Daisy, standing beside Misty, heard her question and chimed in, "Brock, Misty's right."
Hearing Misty and the others, Brock replied, "I'm not sure either. It could be one day, or a month, or maybe even half a year." After speaking, Brock walked away, leaving Ash and the others standing there.
Misty, hearing Brock's vague answer and seeing him walk some distance away, shouted in the direction Brock had left, "Brock! Give us an exact answer!"
Just as Misty finished shouting, Brock's reply came back, "I can't give you an exact answer! When it's time to leave, I'll tell you!"
Hearing Brock's response, Misty looked again in the direction Brock had gone, but his figure was no longer visible.
Brock and Meowth arrived at a spot on the beach some distance away from Ash and the others. Then, Brock took out three Poké Balls from his person and released the Pokémon inside. Soon, four Pokémon stood before Brock: Zubat, Charmander, Squirtle, and Meowth.
Brock looked at the Pokémon before him, then began assigning training tasks to Meowth and the others.
"Meowth, over the past few months, I had you train your running, and the results were good. Starting today, you can train your moves. Also, Meowth, your task for today is to learn the new move 'Iron Tail'. You can do that, right?"
Hearing Brock, Meowth replied, "Brock! I can try, but I don't know if I can learn it." After speaking, Meowth walked off to the side to practice learning the move.
Seeing Meowth walk away, Brock then looked at the remaining Pokémon.
"Zubat, you can also try to learn a new move," Brock said, looking at Zubat. Hearing Brock, Zubat also moved off to the side to practice learning a move.
Brock looked at the remaining Charmander and Squirtle, thought for a moment, then said, "Charmander, Squirtle. You've been with me for a while now, but I haven't really trained you much. I'm sorry about that! If you want to get stronger, you'll have to follow my instructions. Can you do that?"
Hearing Brock, Charmander and Squirtle cried out happily from the side, "Char~ Mander~!" "Squirtle~ Squirtle!", seemingly agreeing.
Hearing Charmander's and Squirtle's cries, Brock was about to assign them tasks when suddenly a voice called out, "Brock! You're here!"
Hearing the voice, Brock turned his head and saw Ash walking towards him. Yes, the voice belonged to Ash.
"Ash, did you need something?" Brock asked, looking at Ash approaching him.
Reaching Brock's side, Ash replied, "Brock, it's like this. You said you were going to train your Pokémon. So I thought about it, and I haven't trained my Pokémon for a while either. Since you were going to train Pokémon, I thought I'd come train with you too. Maybe I can learn something from you that way."
Hearing Ash, Brock thought for a moment and agreed. He then said to Ash, "Ash, give me your Squirtle and Charmander. I'll have my Charmander and Squirtle battle against your Charmander and Squirtle."
Hearing Brock, Ash took two Poké Balls from his person and gave them to Brock. Brock accepted the Poké Balls, then released Ash's Charmander and Squirtle. He then told them to go battle his own Charmander and Squirtle off to the side.
Soon, four Pokémon were battling beside Brock: Charmander versus Charmander, and Squirtle versus Squirtle. Seeing that all his own Pokémon had been assigned tasks, Brock then said to Ash beside him, "Ash, as for your other Pokémon, you should assign tasks yourself! But remember, identify which aspects your Pokémon are weaker in, and train those aspects."
After giving Ash this advice, Brock walked over to watch Meowth practice its new move. Reaching Meowth's side, he saw Meowth repeatedly trying to strike a nearby rock with its tail. Seeing Meowth try several times without success, Brock walked closer and suggested, "Meowth, try focusing all your power into your tail. See if you can execute Iron Tail that way."
Hearing Brock, Meowth decided to follow Brock's instructions. He focused power into his tail, then leaped up and struck at the small rock nearby. Just as Meowth jumped to use Iron Tail, a white light flashed on its tail! When Meowth struck down, the white light vanished. Yes! The appearance of that white light indicated it had successfully used Iron Tail!
Seeing the white light appear and then quickly vanish, Brock told Meowth, "Meowth! You just used Iron Tail, but the effect vanished very quickly! So, you need to recall that feeling you just had, and then keep practicing!"
Hearing Brock, Meowth replied, "I understand, Brock!" After speaking, Meowth went back to practicing as Brock had instructed.
Seeing Meowth training according to his words, Brock then ran over beside Zubat to check on its training.
Seeing Brock approach, Zubat cried out a few times, "Zubat~ Zubat!"
Hearing Zubat's cry, Brock asked, "Zubat, did you learn a new move?"
Hearing Brock, Zubat nodded.
Seeing Zubat nod, Brock said happily, "Zubat! Since you learned a new move, show it to me!"
Hearing Brock, Zubat nodded again, then flew into the air and, facing one direction, used Swift.
Seeing that the move Zubat learned was Swift, Brock praised it, "Zubat, you really didn't disappoint me! Learning Swift so quickly! Well done! However, you need to practice it a lot more! Get thoroughly familiar with this move."
Hearing Brock, Zubat nodded, cried out "Zubat~ Zubat~" a few times, then flew back into the air to practice Swift.
Seeing Zubat go back to training its move, Brock ran over beside where the Charmander and Squirtle were battling. He saw the two Charmander and two Squirtle fighting neck and neck. He then sat down to watch their battles.
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