As Aster stepped onto the battlefield, his eyes briefly met Brock's, who looked like a seasoned trainer but also something else—frustrated, weary. His posture was strong, but there was a weight to his expression, something beyond the battle. At 12, Brock stood tall with an athletic build, looking every bit the part of a Gym Leader. His strong frame and confident stance made him seem older than he was, even though Aster knew the truth.
Physically, Brock looked much older—by at least two years, possibly more. But mentally, Aster was leagues ahead. His experiences from his past life shaped him into someone who had been through far more than his 10 years on this earth would suggest. While Brock had been burdened with his father's abandonment and left to fend for himself, Aster's calm demeanor and determination showed he wasn't just a kid playing at this.
Aster thought about Brock's position: here was a boy who had once had the great potential, only to have it all stripped away. Brock's father had taken all the best Pokémon and left him with the ones he didn't want. The way Brock carried himself, despite the chips stacked against him, was a testament to his resilience—but Aster could see the cracks in the facade. It wasn't just the loss of his father's support—it was the fact that Brock was having to shoulder the responsibility of the Gym while still trying to make sense of his dreams.
Aster's grip tightened around his Pokéball as he looked across at Brock, his thoughts clouded with empathy but also unshakable resolve. He wasn't going to let Brock's struggles deter him from his own path. He could feel the weight of his own mission pressing in—the need to win, not just for his future, but to prove to himself that he was more than just Lorelei's son. He was Aster, and this battle was just the first step on the road to becoming a Pokémon Champion.
"I don't go easy, kid," Brock said, his voice steady but carrying an edge, as if daring Aster to prove him wrong.
Aster nodded, unfazed. "I wouldn't want it any other way."
The referee raised his hand. "This will be a three-on-three Gym battle. The challenger is allowed to switch Pokémon, but the Gym Leader is not. Victory is determined when all of one side's Pokémon can no longer battle. Begin!"
Brock's first choice was immediate. "Geodude, go!"
Aster raised an eyebrow as the rock Pokémon landed with a thud. It wasn't the strongest of Brock's team, but Aster wasn't about to underestimate it.
Aster called out his first Pokémon. "Poliwhirl, I choose you!"
Poliwhirl appeared in a flash of light, hopping into the fray with confidence. Aster didn't flinch. He knew the stakes, and he was ready.
Brock's voice was steady as he gave his first command. "Geodude, Rock Throw!"
Geodude raised its arms and hurled jagged rocks toward Poliwhirl.
Aster reacted instantly. "Dodge it! Use Water Gun!"
Poliwhirl sidestepped with ease, the rocks missing by a wide margin. It then shot a powerful stream of water at Geodude, sending it crashing into a pile of rocks. Geodude staggered but was still standing.
Brock's face tightened with frustration, but he pushed through. "Geodude, Tackle!"
Geodude charged forward with surprising speed, but Poliwhirl was faster. "Hypnosis!"
Poliwhirl's eyes glowed with a spiraling light, and in an instant, Geodude was caught in the trance. It swayed unsteadily before collapsing onto the ground, knocked out cold.
The referee raised his hand. "Geodude is unable to battle! The challenger takes the first victory!"
Brock recalled his Pokémon, his brow furrowed. "You're faster than I expected," he muttered, his voice tight with surprise. But there was something else behind his gaze—maybe respect, maybe disbelief. Either way, Brock wasn't about to back down.
He took a deep breath before sending out his next Pokémon. "Go, Onix!"
A massive, snake-like Onix emerged, its rocky body towering over Poliwhirl. The air seemed to shake as it landed.
Aster narrowed his eyes, calculating. He wasn't sure if Poliwhirl could handle this next challenge, but he wasn't backing down. "Poliwhirl, use Hypnosis again!"
But Brock wasn't going to make it that easy. "Onix, Rock Slide!"
Onix lifted its massive body, and large boulders came crashing down toward Poliwhirl. It was a brutal attack, and Poliwhirl barely managed to dodge.
"Poliwhirl, Water Gun!" Aster commanded quickly.
Poliwhirl fired a stream of water, but it didn't do nearly enough to take down the massive Onix. The Steel-type Pokémon slammed its tail into the ground, sending more rocks flying.
"Onix, Earthquake!" Brock shouted.
The ground beneath them shook violently, causing even Gyarados to stagger.
Aster gritted his teeth, fighting against the shaking. "Gyarados, keep it together—use Bite!"
Gyarados lunged forward, its powerful jaws clamping down on Onix with crushing force. Onix let out a pained roar before finally collapsing under the pressure.
"Onix is unable to battle! The challenger wins!" The referee's voice echoed across the Gym.
Brock stood there for a moment, staring down at his fallen Pokémon. He took a deep breath, trying to mask his frustration, then returned Onix to its Pokéball. He turned to Aster, his voice tinged with something deeper this time—respect.
"You're a lot stronger than I gave you credit for. I've lost... but you've earned this."
Brock handed over the Boulder Badge, the shiny medal gleaming in Aster's palm.
Aster nodded, his voice calm but determined. "This is just the beginning."
As Aster turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, but also a strange connection with Brock. The boy was more than just a Gym Leader—he was someone trapped in circumstances beyond his control, his father abandoning him and leaving him to handle everything. Brock wasn't just a competitor—he was a symbol of perseverance, carrying the weight of his family's struggles with pride.
Aster's conviction wasn't just about winning battles. It was more than just a desire to be strong. He looked at the gym, at Brock, and at the challenge ahead, and in that moment, he thought about his true goal: becoming someone who could reshape the world.
He didn't want to just be a champion. He didn't want to be known only for his battles or the strength of his Pokémon. His mind often wandered to the idea of becoming the kind of person who could protect others, to wield his power in a way that would change the lives of those around him for the better.
But that goal was lofty, almost unreachable.
At his core, Aster understood that. He was still just a kid, even if his mind was older. He didn't have the power yet, nor the experience, to fully understand what it meant to protect the world, to change things for the better. The weight of that conviction made him feel heavier than he should for his age. But it also made him determined. He had a vision that was bigger than just becoming a champion, and he was willing to go through hell to see it realized.
One step at a time, he would get there. But first, he had to win this battle.