The dust from my battle had barely settled when Brock folded his arms and looked at me.
"So," he asked calmly, "what's next for you?"
I clipped the Boulder Badge securely into my case.
"I'm heading to Cerulean City," I said.
Brock nodded. "The Cerulean Gym specializes in Water-types. They'll be a very different challenge than Rock-types."
"I'm ready."
"Wait."
Leaf stepped forward, her expression serious.
"You're leaving already?"
"That was the plan."
She hesitated. "I already battled Brock today… and lost. Onix was too much."
Her eyes flicked toward me. "You made it look easy."
"It wasn't," I said evenly. "Bulbasaur barely held on. Scyther nearly went down after that last Slam."
She looked down for a moment, then back up, determination returning. "I want a rematch."
Brock nodded calmly. "Your Pokémon have already battled today. They need proper rest. Return tomorrow, and I will accept your challenge."
Leaf straightened. "Tomorrow, then."
She turned to me, and after a brief pause, asked quietly but firmly,
"After I beat Brock… can I travel with you? To Cerulean, and beyond?"
I blinked. "…Wait. What?"
She held my gaze. "I don't want to fall behind. I want to grow stronger. And I think traveling with you would push me to do that."
I ran a hand through my hair, surprised by how direct she was. "You want to come with me?"
"Yes."
The word came without hesitation.
I looked toward the cracked battlefield, then back at her. Traveling together meant shared battles, shared risks… shared progress.
"Alright," I said finally. "If you win tomorrow, you can come with me."
Her eyes brightened instantly. "Deal."
Brock stepped away from the field. "Rest well tonight. Both of you. Strength without recovery leads to defeat."
Leaf nodded, then glanced at me once more.
"Don't leave before tomorrow."
"I won't," I said.
With that settled, the intensity in the Gym eased.
Tomorrow would decide whether she earned her badge—
And whether I would be leaving Pewter City alone… or not.
Morning light stretched across the stone battlefield as Leaf stepped into the Pewter Gym once more.
Her expression was calm—but determined.
Behind her, Bulbasaur padded forward, eyes locked on the arena ahead.
At the far end stood Brock, arms folded as always.
"You've returned," he said evenly. "Since you only have one Pokémon, this will be a one-on-one battle."
Leaf nodded. "That's all I need."
I stood near the edge of the battlefield, silent. This was her challenge.
"Onix."
The massive Rock Snake Pokémon rose from beneath the arena floor, towering over the field.
"Bulbasaur, let's go!"
"Bulba!"
"Begin."
"Vine Whip!"
Bulbasaur struck first, vines snapping forward with precision and force. They wrapped around Onix's lower segments and pulled hard.
Onix shifted slightly.
"Razor Leaf!"
Sharp leaves spun through the air, striking against stone and knocking fragments loose.
Leaf was sharp. Focused.
Bulbasaur dodged a sweeping tail strike, sliding across the stone before firing off another Vine Whip.
For a moment, she had control.
Brock's gaze sharpened.
"Onix. Bind."
The massive Pokémon lunged forward, its rocky body coiling tightly around Bulbasaur before it could escape.
"Bulbasaur, break free!" Leaf shouted.
Bulbasaur strained, vines pushing outward—but Onix's strength was overwhelming.
I took a step forward despite myself. "Stay with it, Leaf!"
Brock's voice remained steady.
"Onix… Slam."
Onix lifted its massive body high into the air—
And brought it crashing down.
The Gym shook violently. Dust exploded upward, swallowing the battlefield.
"Bulbasaur!" Leaf's voice cut through the haze.
Silence.
The dust slowly settled.
Bulbasaur lay still for a moment.
Then—
It moved.
Slowly, painfully, it pushed itself back onto its feet.
The bulb on its back began to glow.
Leaf's breath caught. "You're…?"
A soft white light enveloped Bulbasaur's body, growing brighter by the second. Its frame expanded. The bulb bloomed larger, leaves spreading wider and stronger.
The light flared brilliantly—
And then faded.
Standing on the battlefield was Ivysaur.
Ivysaur let out a deeper, more powerful cry.
Leaf stared at her evolved partner, eyes wide with awe and pride.
The battle had changed.