Return of the defeated (on hold)

/Part 5/

"Ash you weren't joking when you said you have a lot of new pokemon." Gary said with an awe shocked expression.

Ash just rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and said, "I didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Ash my boy this is amazing, you've gathered an amazing amount of pokemon and from what I can see they are very well trained." Professor Oak stated while admiring Areodactyl.

"Ash with all these pokemon by your side I don't think you'll have a single problem at any of the leagues you enter." Gary said in awe of all the pokemon in front of him.

"Thanks Gary but there are some incredibly strong trainers out there." Ash said with smile "But, that doesn't scare me one bit. I love a strong opponent."

Over the course of the next few hours Ash explained about his new pokemon and a few of his old ones. He did his best to answer the profeasor's questions about Lucario, Areodactyl and how he and Greninja bonded in battle.

While everyone was chatting and admiring all of Ash's pokemon, he took the chance to talk to Brock. "Brock can I talk to you privately for a minute?" Ash asked in a hushed nervous tone.

"Sure thing man," the pokemon doctor replied as they walked a little ways from the group. "Whats up Ash, you look a little nervous and confused?"

Ash explained to Brock what happened the night he left how he felt when he saw May, about the feelings seeing her again for the first time in five years, how angry he got when he seen that Drew had slapped her, and finished by telling him, "Its strange to me Brock I missed everyone while I was training but at least once a week I'd dream about her, Iwould see her face and hear her voice. I don't know what that means."

Brock chuckled as he placed his hand on Ash's shoulder, "Ash in all the years I've known you, you've only ever paid attention to pokemon, battles and food. Don't try to tell me otherwise we both know its the truth." He said as Ash opened his mouth to argue but closed it knowing Brock was right. "Ash I can't tell you what all of that means, thats up to you. Do some thinking and look in your heart and search your mind I'm sure you'll find the answer."

"Ok Brock thank you for the help, I'll try meditating to try and clear my thoughts." Ash said.

"Anytime Ash, when you get to Pewter we'll talk more and see what you've found out then." The older man said with a grin.

"Sounds good man thank you again." he said as they walked back to the group. "By the way Brock I've been meaning to ask, how did you and Lucy end up together."

"After you left we all started looking for you or where you might be going. I had a thought that you might have thought about taking Scott's offer to be a Frontier Brain. So I went to the Battle Pike to ask Lucy if she'd heard from you, when I explained what had happened she contacted the other brains and they a tried to help look for you. After a few months she and I were having dinner after looking around some parts of Kanto that you were rumored to have been seen in. One thing led to another and we ended confessing our feelings for each other at the same time and thats how it all started." Brock said while looking at Lucy as they walked up.

Ash smiled and said, "Well thats two relationships that started because of me. Guess it wasn't all bad that I left." Ash felt a slap against the back of his head "Owe Brock what the hell."