Chapter 17: The Shadows of Pewter City and an Unexpected Duel

Section 17: The Shadows of Pewter City and an Unexpected Duel

The city's atmosphere is heavy.

I leave the scene of the incident, but a part of me stays there, staring at the white sheet covering the lifeless bodies of the prisoners.

A suicide? Maybe.

But the possibility that this was a staged escape seems just as credible.

Team Rocket stops at nothing.

But for now, that lead will have to wait.

Something else has caught my attention.

Brock and his family.

I never imagined that a Gym Leader could be more than just an opponent.

And yet, what I saw today proved otherwise.

Nine younger siblings.

All under his care.

They clung to him like a lifeline, wearing smiles that hid a much deeper sadness.

The kind of pain a child shouldn't have to bear.

But Brock seems to have taken on that burden without faltering.

A true rock.

It's clear that he doesn't just have physical strength.

He possesses a mental strength that is just as formidable.

And in a Pokémon battle, that matters far more than any attack.

Knowing this could be useful for my Gym battle.

But I'll think about it later.

My stomach reminds me of something more immediate.

I glance at a nearby store's clock.

7:25 PM.

A restaurant is just a few steps away.

Without hesitation, I decide to go in.

The inside is warm and inviting, but I don't have time to appreciate the atmosphere.

Because the moment I step inside, I see Damian.

And he's not alone.

A girl is sitting across from him.

As soon as he sees me, he waves enthusiastically.

— Hey! Come join us!

His tone is too insistent to refuse.

Without a word, I sit at their table.

A waiter passes by.

— Add an order for him too! Damian calls out.

I quickly scan the menu and make my choice.

— A salmon steak.

Fish is excellent for memory.

But that won't help me figure out who this girl sitting across from me is.

She looks at me for a moment before speaking.

— My name is Leaf.

Her brown hair, her confident gaze…

She carries herself with a certain assurance.

— I started my journey two months ago.

She takes out a Poké Ball and opens it.

A wartortle appears.

— He was my first Pokémon. But since I'm from Pewter City, I already have two badges.

I study her carefully.

A Bulbasaur, just like me.

And already two badges.

I introduce myself in return.

— Yellow Thunder.

A pause.

— I just started my journey.

She analyzes me for a few seconds before giving a slight smile.

Damian then speaks up.

— I met her while looking for information about the Pewter Gym Leader.

He glances at Leaf.

— She told me how she beat him.

She smiles proudly.

— It was simple. I just used type advantage.

She places her two badges on the table.

I observe them.

Brock's Boulder Badge.

Misty's Cascade Badge.

She has already been to Cerulean City.

But if she has made it that far…

Why has she come back here?

A detail comes to mind.

In Viridian City, I was told that Team Rocket was in Cerulean.

Is there a connection to her return to Pewter?

I'm not sure.

And I don't want to ask directly.

But I want to learn more about her.

About her battle style.

And most importantly, about her true strength.

But how can I get her to battle without being the one to suggest it?

I look at Damian.

I know his team.

Charmander and Beedrill.

Against Brock's Rock-type Pokémon, he's at a huge disadvantage.

His Charmander might know Metal Claw, a move super effective against Rock-types.

But that alone won't be enough.

I relax slightly in my chair.

And I slowly plant a seed.

— You didn't have trouble with Brock because of type advantage.

Leaf nods confidently.

Damian, however, lowers his gaze slightly.

— But not everyone has a Water-type Pokemon at hand.

I let a silence settle.

A silence that is subtle, yet heavy.

— So, those with a type disadvantage… are they just doomed to lose?

Leaf shrugs.

— That's how the world of battles works.

Damian clenches his fist slightly.

Got him.

He refuses to accept that logic.

He refuses to believe that he's destined to lose just because of his team.

I don't need to say anything more.

The mechanism is already in motion.

— Well… he starts, crossing his arms.

He fixes Leaf with a determined look.

— If you're so confident, prove it to me in a battle.

Leaf blinks, slightly surprised.

— Huh?

— You beat Brock thanks to type advantage. But against me, you won't have that.

A smile spreads across her lips.

— Alright.

I glance at the clock.

8:30 PM.

We've finished eating.

We head to the park.

I stand slightly back.

They are about to battle.

And I, I will observe.