Once again, there was a fairly niche thing I was looking for, and this is on every level and some. I love how Brock and Gary become friends and the realistic growth and life-decisions they're dealing with while still remaining connected to Ash and the show. Wow, all the love!

this is absolutely fantastic

I can't wait for his reaction to the end of Kalos.

This is amazing. This also just rekindled some love for Ash and his adventures. Thanks for that.

I do like the phone call style too. I don’t recall every reference either (though I did remember most of them). I am going to look up Ash jumping out of a sky scraper to reach Pikachu now too.

This was a really great read! It was really interesting to see this interaction between Brock and Gary. And honestly the concept of #kidwithpikachu being a thing amuses me endlessly and I would like to see more about that. This was really well written though! Thank you for sharing.

Okay out of the three I read so far, this one is my favorite :3

... So far. I see you have more Pokemon stories to be read, and read them I will. Later, probably, because it's 4am right now and my lack of real sleep is finally catching up with me.

This was such a fun, fun, fun relationship to explore. I'm a little biased because I freaking love Gary Oak, as a concept and as a person now (he was actually my first fictional crush, for whatever reason, back when I was like, seven). The whole story was a such an interesting and new concept! I actually thought this would be a short, one scene kind of thing with just the Orange Island bull crap going on, and I was super happy to see it turn into an episodic kind of retelling and small debriefing of Ash's journey through the regions! Not just the movies, either, but of the big events in the anime. Your hastags were freaking cute too. #kidwithapikachu would be my favorite pastime in the Pokemon world.

This was like, low key angsty, and it genuinely hurt my heart watching Gary watch Ash from afar, just wishing he could be best friends with him again. Stories where Ash is a big deal always make him like, know he's a big deal or it's Ash-centric so we can't watch other people react to how big a deal he is. I really enjoyed watching from the background with Brock and his new best friend. Gary and Brock becoming best friends, bonding over wanting to kill Ash for swan diving into danger, was clever, and new, and fantastic. How many times can I say how fantastic it was?

Anyway, I'm for sure coming after the rest of your stories when I'm well rested and have time, so you prepare your battlefronts and the moats and gates because I'm collecting them all for my hoard of favorites. Your writing style is distinct and kind of homey in a way I can't really describe, it's just... Comfortable. I really love it.

You have a wonderful night, and keep on keeping on 3

I haven't logged into my fanfic account for years, but I had to for this story. That was incredible. I've never even considered fanfiction with a mature take on the Pokémon world (probably because it's so linked to my childhood) and this just blew me away. I love the relationship you built between Brock and Gary, I love the set up in the beginning with the "best friend's childhood bully" and then the slow built towards just "best friend". I love the way you addressed Brock's insecurities and how you let the characters grow and mature . . . What a masterpiece. Thank you for this story :)

Amazing.

I always wondered what happened to the cast members that left after Ash finishes a region and this gave me some closure about the topic. What was interesting to me was the growing friendship between Brock and Gary as the story goes on. First, they centered their relationship on their mutual friend, Ash. Their self-doubts and worries about staying friends with Ash help them grow as their own persons. It shows how slowly their conversations move on from Ash to about their own lives. Even though it was saddening to read how Brock and Gary seemed to be pushed to the sidelines after Ash moves on, it was their choice to stay away from him. So, I'm actually torn between pity and empathy for the two of them.

But anyways, awesome fanfic! I'm pretty sure that there isn't going to be a sequel to this one-shot. I'm pretty curious to the idea of how Ash interprets his life as his friends go on with their own goals without him as the center of their focuses. :)

AWESOME. I never even considered a fic like this, but it's awesome. Also #kidwithapikauchu

Pretty awesome

Wow. That was really awesome. Kudos for the insightful and unforgettable read!