Hard Enough Chapter 226: Family down time debriefs

I finished crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s on the last summary report for the day.

This was rather easy thanks to my earlier wisdom of setting the Gym up with multiple-angle caras which allowed for to have highlights recorded and played back for later logging for trainer profiles.

With the benefit of hindsight I was able to point out a few more things in the reports for the various trainers.

Still, the standouts for today were Joe and Giselle. Joe for the effort he put in and his return to the fight after literally breaking down.

That was never easy. Sotis when your ntal ga was done it was impossible to actually muster up a scrap of anything. Still, he’d been able to scrounge up sothing that I could charitably call an attempt to fight on.

His resistance, despite what seed like overwhelming odds, led to a resurgence in a lot of trainers for the later half of the day. More and more of them put themselves out there and went the distance, resulting in more trainers earning passing marks from .

Then, Giselle made her mark by reaching for the second hardest challenge that I had to offer.

I could only thank my lucky stars that she hadn’t gotten it into her head to attempt an Elite Challenge.

Perhaps she had more wisdom than that?

I suspected it was more of a case that she hadn’t considered it, despite the advertising and wide coverage the two matches I’d had so far had gotten.

Starting things off with Bertha had been exceptional luck. Battlecast had supposedly run her match a few more tis with the viewer ratings being extrely high.

That had fed into more advertising for the next match which had been a quick hit-and-run match with Shin who won a fair amount of praise for his battle. His dashing in and out had people on the edge of their seats as after watching Bertha's power and endurance, Shin's much faster, more brittle fighting style had stood out.

I was getting so good feedback for this and these were still fairly straightforward fights. I was really looking forward to getting Jorm, or Sanchez out onto the field, or Gawain.

And then of course there was still Titan to co.

He might not look it, but I knew he was itching to show everyone how much he’d grown since last year. Last year he’d just been categorised as a Champion tier pokemon, but this year? With how our bond had grown? I was anticipating being able to pull off so tricks that would blow people’s minds.

Then again, I wouldn’t have to wait long as next week was the mid-year shut down, or Golden week where so people got to relax. I wasn’t among those numbers as I was going to be taking part in the top ten mid-year match-ups for the Ace circuit.

Thankfully this year's tournant was not going to be taking place in Indigo which, while iconic, wasn’t a great place to take young kids. Instead, we’d be going to Chrysanthemum City, a new up-and-cor in cities with it having breached ten thousand humans in its registered population a few years ago.

Since then, it had exploded onto the scene.

With it being an island city with beautiful beaches I was rather looking forward to the downti along with my family.

I paused as I clicked out of Giselle’s report. My family did rember that we were going didn’t they? I had told them… at so point. I started to feel a headache co on as I realized I might have forgotten that little detail with how busy I’d been.

Ah well, no ti like the present to tell them.

I rose from my desk, stretching as I did so, a yawn ripping out of . When I exited my office I took a step out only to twitch when Rachel skated past.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I called after her, my mind conjuring up various health and safety issues that leaving her to her own devices would result in.

Rachel spun around on the spot and made her way back to , grin in place. “Yeah I am! With these babies I am speed! I can almost skate down Trixie you know?” she said confidently as she twirled around .

I tracked her with my eyes, not turning my head or body. That would only lead to vertigo and her winning. Instead, I rely grunted. “Sohow I think she might be letting you get close,” I said.

Which had to be true, considering that I was still run down when I used my ‘cheat’ with rock stepping ability which carried further with every step I took.

Trixie was a freak when it ca to physical accomplishnts.

Sowhere, sohow, I just knew at this mont, she was training.

I smiled to myself and watched as Rachel paused to take a breath, having winded herself performing so many tight turns around .

“So, what was with you asking the girls to sit in with Giselle?” I said.

Rachel shrugged. “Girl needs so friendly faces to wake up to.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Two of those faces, she fought not that long ago and Crystal… she’s a bit of an acquired taste I would have thought.”

Rachel waved her hand. “Pish posh! She’s just an excitable lass is all! Anyway, Greta and Yolanda balance her out, they’re all nice girls and Giselle, she could do with so age-appropriate company.”

I tilted my head before deciding to not prod the issue any further.

Rachel had obviously spotted sothing of note or ford so sort of idea about Giselle. Whatever it was, I’d leave it to her for now unless it beca relevant to .

“How’s things looking with the pokenet page over the recent highlights?” I asked.

Rachel bobbed her head up and down, sending her rainbow hair bouncing. “It’s doing well. We’re getting a lot of hits with Bertha’s fight but Shin’s getting so traction. I’ve got so more orders coming in for Bertha’s toy due to people buying out Bertha’s toy.”

“Ho?” I asked, surprised by this little tidbit as I began to move towards my ho.

Rachel kept pace with , happily chattering away about how sales had been influenced by the various events and showcases that had been put on. Titan’s doll remained the top seller but others had their own peaks.

As I passed various other employees in the hall I gave them a nod.

When I passed the security guard he waved, while from his shoulder a blocky duck-like pokemon peered out.

Cypher warbled happily as I passed by before quacking for the guard to head in one direction.

“Found sothing?” I asked, worry rising to the fore only for the guard to laugh.

“Nah, Cypher just wants to be walked sotis. He will randomly sweep the Gym which is good as it gets out of a predictable routine.”

Huh good to see them taking their duties seriously.

I waved them on and entered my ho with Rachel skating through the door after . “Going sowhere?” I asked her.

“Yeah I want to see if the girls are all getting along,” she said. I raised an eyebrow in silent question only for Rachel to wink and wave to lead her through the house.

As we did so, I could only chuckle and shake my head as the noises of a household with seven kids bounced around until it reached us.

“Lovely bunch of coconuts!” chanted Tilly and Billy as they held onto each other and Munchlax with what looked like a conga line.

“DAD!” shouted Tommy as he marched out of his room with a book in his hands. “Did you know? That Kangaskhan poops are as big as my head!” he shouted proudly.

Rachel shot a stunned look and I rely rolled my eyes which Rachel didn’t react to. I decided to instead ignore it and what Tommy was up to right now.

“Thanks son!” called Flint from a door that I knew led to a toilet. I grimaced when I noticed that the door was slightly ajar.

“Close the door!” I called back over my shoulder and Flint obliged.

“Brock’s ho!” called Suzie as she sprinted out of her room only for the sound of sothing crashing down followed by a cry of despair to ring out.

I had been in this situation enough tis to know what ca next.

“Brooooooooock!”’ scread Timmy as he hurtled out, causing more crashing sounds in his wake. “Suzie broke the tower we were making!”

“And you broke the rest of the town?” I asked redundantly.

Timmy backtracked from to his room and peered in. “Ah! Suzie, look what you did!” he cried.

I sighed. Right, it was going to be like that was it?

“Both of you contributed to it but that doesn’t matter, how about we play another ga?”

“Yeah!” They cheered.

I smirked. “Not before you pack up your toys,” I said.

Suzie hesitated while her twin charged back in to clean up the playroom.

“Yes Suzie?” I asked.

“Brock, can I look at the egg?” she said with wide eyes. That gave pause. I eyed her.

“You’re interested in it, are you?” I asked neutrally.

Suzie nodded. “Yeah,” she said.

I rubbed my chin, a thought forming up. Togepi would be a good pokemon for a young girl, and would eventually beco a powerhouse of a pokemon if things went her way.

“Only after you clean your room,” I said firmly.

Suzie turned and sprinted off so quickly I thought for a second she’d used Extre Speed. The sound of toys hitting walls ca from her room but when I poked my head into the room it looked like she’d simply been throwing them at the wall to make them fall into the toybox.

I watched, amazed at the sudden, intense motivation as Suzie slapped together a puzzle, correctly I might add, stashed it on the right shelf and then began packing away all the books they’d had out.

Timmy stared at his sister and decided to do perhaps the smartest thing he could and get out of her way. He inched over to his bed and began patting it down. Then he took a step away from it and nodded. “All tucked in!” he said.

I stared at the crumbled ss of bed with clothes and toys that littered all over it.

Next to , Rachel broke into giggles. “Oh my gosh, they’re too cute!” she said as Timmy looked at with a smug expression.

I sighed and gave him a thumbs-up. “Good try bud,” I said. It was true after all, as a five year old even an attempt at making the bed was good. “Make sure you… fluff the pillows,” I said waving my hand at the pillows that were on the floor.

Timmy grabbed the pillows and threw them on the bed before performing a textbook-perfect judo chop on all of them. “It’s not violence when it’s styling!” he chanted.

I raised a finger. “Uhmmm what?” I said. I was obviously missing sothing.

Flint approached and peered over my shoulder to see what was going on. “Oh, he’s copying my show. I like watching a renovation television show and one of the competitors this season is a Martial artist. He has a lot of funny monts like that. Timmy rather enjoys watching, don’t you Timmy?”

Timmy nodded and adopted a fighting stance, then with every word he said he threw a punch. “Gingham is the style that speaks to the heart!”

What?

I stared at Flint in judgent. “Riiiiight,” I said before noticing sothing. “Did you actually wash your hands or just dip them in water? They’re still dripping!” I said, leaning away from him.

“Just a rinse is all I need,” he said.

Suzie and Timmy stopped cleaning and punching the air to stare at Flint in disbelief.

Then as one, they levelled fingers of accusation at him. “Dirty old man!”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Rachel clutched the wall as laughter shook her fra, her feet skittered out from under her due to her roller skates so she sank to her knees as she wheezed out her laughter. “Always worth coming in here!” she said to the floor.

Flint, now chastised, slunk back to finish washing his hands.

Timmy marched after him. “Here! I’ll show you how to do it properly!” he said and I could soon hear the sound of Timmy singing Happy Birthday out loud.

Rachel tilted her head, staring at the bathroom from the floor. “What’s that about?”

“It’s a way to ensure good hygiene,” I said. No way would I be able to explain how my standards were much higher than others due to enduring Covid lockdowns in a past life.

Rachel nodded and then made to climb back to her feet. I glanced around. “Any Growlithe inside?” I asked Suzie.

Suzie instantly stiffened. “Nope!” she said with all the skill at lying a five-year-old could muster.

I nodded. Then I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled.

Instantly, five Growlithe appeared, dashing down the hallway or spilling out of rooms. I noted one must have been in Suzie and Tilly’s shared room as they appeared before . I pointed at Rachel, the rainbow-haired woman’s eyes grew wide.

“Brock Don’t you—”

“Lick,” I commanded and the Growlithe set about their task with great enthusiasm, knocking Rachel to the ground.

Sabrina chose that mont to appear. She gave Rachels downed form a look before ignoring her. I t her with a smile. “Hey you,” I said.

“Hello,” she said, giving a soft kiss on the cheek before turning her gaze upon my siblings and Flint who was returning with dry hands and a proud-looking Timmy.

Flint eyed Rachel and made a half-hearted attempt to help only to shrug. “Ah well, she’s gone to a better place,” he said with faux sadness.

“The farm?” said Timmy innocently. I coughed at Timmy’s stepping on a small landmine.

I hadn’t really been able to convey what happened to my original Onix to them very well, so I’d had to settle for being sent to the farm.

I turned my gaze upon Suzie, ntally deciding to handball that conversation to Flint in future.

I raised a querulous eyebrow at her.

Suzie coughed. “I only brought Lady inside,” she said.

Next to , Sabrina let out a single chuckle before smiling. She could probably hear so very interesting thoughts being broadcast right now.

“Yes I see,” I said with a slow drawl, “I’m sure it wasn’t a group project to sneak the Growlithe inside.”

Timmy and Suzie shifted. They both looked away, not willing to et my gaze.

I eyed the other puppies as they licked and slobbered Rachel’s downed form.

Spot made sense if I was expecting Yolanda here, as was Hepheastus, Lady was accounted for, which just left Mr Woofers and… Spyro? I thought, eyeing the more tufty-looking puppy pokemon.

Which left Cuddles, Snuggles, Sirius, Clifford, and Agni out patrolling.

I glanced along the hallway a little more before giving Sabrina a look. She could tell but I didn’t need to be a psychic to know that odds were that there were more dogs in the house.. And probably one or two pokemon who should be on the reserve.

Probably asleep in one of my siblings’s beds.

I shook my head and gave the room another look over, ignoring the wet sounds of slobbering and hysterical laughter from Rachel a mont more before I whistled low once.

“Heel,” I said and the Growlithe stopped. They even went as far as to line up with their chests puffed out proudly. I eyed the Growlithe.

Lady had the shiniest, smoothest coat. Spyro had his tufts that made him look wild and horned. Spot had… the most stripes… Hephaestus had the shortest hair but the shaggiest feet.

And then there was Mr Woofers.

I stared into his dopey dog eyes. He was perfectly at attention like all the others, but you just couldn’t take him as seriously. Not with how his tongue was perpetually stuck to the side.

He was the most lovable derp I had ever had the joy to own.

I nodded and Sabrina levitated treats above all of their noses. They quivered on the spot only for to nod. “Take,” I said and they all snapped the treats out of the air expertly.

I then turned my attention to my siblings. “Alright, let’s round up the rest of the troops,” I said. When Suzie started to open her mouth I preempted her. “And we’ll grab the egg as well, alright?” I said.

Suzie vibrated in place and I chuckled.

“Damn you’re cruel boss,” said Rachel as she clambered to her feet. Her face and neck were particularly wet and her hair was stuck up in odd places. I rather liked the rainbow cow, or in this case, Growlithe lick appearance she had.

I raised my Xtransicever and took a photo before turning the image to show her. She giggled at it. “Oh send that to ! I can’t wait to show Trixie! Oh! I’ll post it on the Gym’s pokenet page as well! Security Growlithe at work I think I’ll call it!” she said proudly.

I laughed and Sabrina broke a smile.

We led the kids through the halls, collecting more siblings along with Cuddles and Snuggles who’d been napping in Tommy and Billy’s bed respectively.

At my room, I opened the door only to stare at the guts of Agni who was snoring away in my bed.

I glanced at Sabrina. “I keep my door locked when I’m not in it,” I said.

Sabrina’s facade of innocence broke and I snorted. “Very funny,” I said before whistling to wake up Agni. The little Growlithe joined us, his vibrant red coat standing out among the others and making him look like he was on fire as he moved.

I collected the egg carrier only for Suzie to seize it. The rest of the walk to the communal areas then beca a crawl as Suzie insisted on carrying the egg herself, talking away to it the entire ti while Sabrina and I watched on.

“She’s very good with it,” Sabrina said as Suzie set the carrier on the couch before curling around it, still happily telling the egg all about her day.

I nodded, the idea of who to give the egg to solidifying in my mind. It would be years before Suzie needed a pokemon herself, but you could never have too many friends.

When we reached the kitchen I found myself looking upon an odd scene.

Yolanda, Greta, and Crystal were all sitting at the bench with a huge bottle of soda pop in front of them. Eevee was in the middle with a very smug look on her face as Yolanda stroked her fur gently while Terra was happily sitting in Greta’s lap.

The odd part wasn’t that there were a small tower of other bottles stacked to the side indicating the girls, and the pokemon as well I presud, had drunk enough sugar to give them at least an acute case of Hyperglycemia.

Nor was it the empty plate that Munchlax was licking clean while sniffling sadly, indicating he hadn’t gotten enough of the treat.

The odd part was Giselle sitting among their number.

I blinked. “Uhm hello girls?” I said tentatively.

The gaggle of Growlithe I’d brought with trotted in and a few sniffed at Munchlax while Mr Woofers hopped up into Giselle’s lap.

The girls giggled at this but Mr Woofers must have put so pressure on sothing as Giselle twitched and her hands shot up to her mouth only for Mr Woofers to intercept them in his quest for pats.

I could only watch as my brain kicked into gear that sothing was about to happen.

I watched as Giselle’s eyes bulged and her mouth rippled only to widen.

Sabrina must have felt her premonition kick in as she deftly ducked back into the hallway while I stood in front of Giselle.

Giselle then unleashed a gigantic bur. The noise alone practically slapped in the face and I felt my hair jostle slightly with the wind Giselle let loose.

The noise filled the room with a loud rattling before echoing out into the hallway.

I blinked and wiped my face out of reflex. Ah good, it wasn’t wet.

Giselle stared at in mortification.

“Hello there?” I said carefully, worried what else I might get greeted with.

Giselle sunk into Mr Woofer’s fur.

Greta bit her lips and Yolanda put a hand to her mouth. Crystal had no complications with throwing her head back and roaring with laughter. “Oh my sweet Arceus! Brock’s face! Right in his face!”

“Stop… please,” Giselle whined as she held Mr Woofers up only for another small burp to escape her lips.

I felt my lips twitch. Sabrina glanced into the room to see if it was safe and I coughed painfully.

“Don’t worry it happens,” I said consolingly. Giselle peeked up at and I smiled encouragingly but she only seed to grow more mortified.

Sabrina coughed and I sighed. “How about I leave you girls alone, “ I said, deciding that I’d be imposing if I stuck around.

Rachel skated into the room before I could leave. She glanced around and then grinned at Munchlax who was still staring at Giselle with an impressed look on his face.

“Damn impressive little princess! I didn’t know you had that sort of Hypervoice in you!” Rachel said. “I even got a recording of it cause I was ssing around with my transceiver!’ she said happily as she pressed sothing on it only for a huge burp to echo out once more.

Crystal fell on the floor with how hard she was now laughing and I sighed as Giselle looked ready to bolt.

“Let’s not embarrass her too much, “ I said suggestively. I gave Rachel a look and she paused realising that sothing was playing out.

She glanced around and took in the room before nodding. “Ah right, probably won’t need this taking up space,” she said before making a show of deleting the video file.

Giselle then shot a grateful look and nodded. Sabrina coughed and I glanced away to see what she had to say, only for Sabrina to smile knowingly.

Giselle’s hand shifted and I saw Yolanda twitch in surprise as sothing clattered to the ground.

I glanced down. Huh, one of the rocks we kept around the house had fallen to the ground. I picked it up and tossed it into a stack that I kept in a bowl next to Giselle.

Yolanda looked from the rock to Giselle in surprise.

I paused. Alright, I’d missed sothing here.

Sabrina floated a stool over for herself to claim before waving off. “I think I might enjoy so girl talk,” she said.

I nodded slowly and decided to retreat to the loungeroom where the rest of my family were.

Flint had pride of place and apparently the remote as the television was airing a show where a karate gi wearing man was demolishing a wall.

“Open plan living is a must for this build and will increase the value!” shouted the man with each punch.

Timmy and Billy happily copied him, kicking and punching cushions across the room.

I nodded slowly. Yeah, this checked out as a pokemon styled television show.

Flint glanced over to as I sat down. “I think we’re going to have to control what we feed Munchlax from now on,” he said.

I snorted and bit my lips. “Yeah… sure, Munchlax will need to watch his diet,” I said. I felt my Xtransciever ping and I opened it to find a video ssage from rachel. Huh, turns out she hadn’t actually deleted it before sending off a copy.

I saved it to a separate blackmail folder with a chuckle.

I was just starting to get comfortable when a soft grumble made peak over the back of the couch where Zephyr was revealed with a nest of blankets curled around him.

He stared at , caught in my loungeroom.

“Huh,” I said. Of all the pokemon I was expecting to find in the house. My usually very serious and extrely stoic Zephyr wasn’t at the top of the list.

I’d been expecting—

Sanchez tumbled past with a happy rumble only to cough and stand when he caught sight of . I huffed. “What?” I said before deciding to just ignore them. Sanchez barked a laugh and moved to join on the couch, leading to all of us watching a show about renovations with a man who blended martial arts with demolition.

On a whim I decided to ssage Janine asking her what she thought about.. “What’s this show called?” I asked Flint.

“They call it Renovation Rambo,” he said before offering so popcorn, which I took a handful of before offering so to Sanchez and Zephyr. Zephyr happily pecked it out of my hands, trilling as he did so.

I sent off the ssage and was extrely amused when Janine sent back a wall of text. I slowly read through it before nodding and sending her back a summary which amounted to the show being a disgrace to building codes and an accident waiting to happen, but sadly the man was extrely well controlled with his strikes and also sly enough to use pokemon that could telekinetically support the roof and walls that might buckle as more pressure ca down on them.

I tapped Sanchez and then gave Zephyr a look. “Feeling ready for next week lads?” I asked.

Sanchez shot a thumbs up while Zephyr perked up. Unlike the Elite Challenge, I would be making use of him for so of the matches as a way to change things up from my typical water-rock dominant teams.

The show ended and I had to admit to being rather amused by it and the antics it inspired in the boys. Suzie I noted had spent the ti snatching wayward pillows to construct a little house around herself and the egg to keep it even warr.

I decided to leave them to it, as a glance outside revealed that there was still a bit of light out.

“Hey Zephyr, want to go for a fly?” I suggested.

My Noctowl perked up and I grinned. A flight sounded like just the thing to end the day. Although just to share the fun I decided to lead Zephyr out into the reserve before calling for Don, his daughter, and Zubat to join us.

Don didn’t seem to know what to make of this offer, but I simply waved him up into the sky. I’d had to show him so stick recently and it was ti to have so carrot to keep our bond strong. If that happened to an he got to show off to his daughter, well I could use that fatherly pride of his to just make it that much more special.

And there was no way I was breaking little Zubat’s heart by not including her.

We took off and I caught sight of Rachel zipping ho. I resisted the urge to swoop her and instead directed my pokemon to loop out to the south and over Viridian forest.

It made for a rather nice afternoon and when I got back, I found the girls were waving farewell to Giselle who was stepping into a limousine much to Crystal’s surprise.

I landed and offered a wave of farewell myself as I marched up to the group and joined them walking inside. Greta and Crystal broke off for their own arrangents and I nudged Yolanda.

“So, new friend?” I said.

Yolanda nodded with a thoughtful look. “She’s… different but in a good way.” Yolanda smirked. “I think Crystal doesn’t realise how lucky she is though, there’ve been a few instances when she’s pushed Giselle I think.”

“Oh?” I asked. “Is that alright?”

Yolanda shrugged. “She needs to learn that sotis she can be a brat. I try pointing it out but she sotis slips into old habits.”

I nodded and grabbed a drink of water. Sabrina’s eyes glinted and I hurried to swallow what was in my mouth only for Sabrina to say, “Crystal’s going to learn that when you talk shit, you sotis get hit.”

I snorted and water shot from my nose causing Yolanda to burst out into giggles.

I shot Sabrina an annoyed look before snorting what was left of the water out of my nose. “You’re playful this afternoon,” I said, moving in to kiss her only for her to hold out a hand.

“I’m not kissing you until you clean up a bit,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. “picky, picky!” I said like she was being onerous as I went and did just that.

When I got back, it was just in ti for Sabrina to reveal that Ralts had evolved.

“Woah!” shouted Suzie in shock as Kirlia now stood taller than her… especially with how Kirlia liked to stand on her tiptoes.

Various children tried to get in close only for Kirlia to display her new capacity to move by twirling and dancing around them.

More than a few children ended up with booped noses. The kids wrinkled their noses before giggling.

Terra waddled in with all the noise and Kirlia tiptoed over her to her friend/rival. She towered over Terra and looked down her nose.

Everyone watched as Terra stared up at her friend only to start beaming with joy.

“Lar! Larv! Itar!” She then began hopping from one side to gesture with her stubby little hands at various points. I got the impression it was like a friend finding another and gushing over how pretty they had grown.

Kirlia smiled wider and wider until she started to blush when Terra found more and more things to complint.

“Kiiiiiiirlia!” said Kirlia with a flap of her hand as she demurred.

Terra then hugged her friend and Kirlia’s eyes bulged as she realised she’d made a terrible mistake.

Like a professional tackler, Terra grabbed Kirlia by the ankles and the much taller pokemon had a mont to realise what was about to happen.

Her eyes bulged as she toppled, her legs taken out from under her. With Kirlia on the ground, Terra was all over her patting and nuzzling into her and the various new bits.

The kids decided to get in on this and Kirlia could only wail and reach out for Sabrina who rely smiled on.

I chuckled and Yolanda shot a look. “You knew?”

I nodded. “I forgot to ntion it,” I said which made pause. “Oh, did I ntion we’re going to Chrysanthemum Island next week for Golden Week as well?”

“What?!” “Where?” “Why?” “Yeah! Island vacation!” shouted various mbers of my family.

Flint levelled an unimpressed look at . “You really should have ntioned this earlier, Brock,” he said.

I coughed. Ah, turns out I had let that slip.

Whoops?