Pewter City - New Day

“What do you guys wanna do?”

Lucas asked just as the group reached the Pewter City Pokémon centre. Kelly seemed down when she got her Bulbasaur back.

“Kelly you okay?” Lucas asked sitting beside her in the centre’s café.
“Yeah I’m fine it’s just… when those Beedrill attacked us I…”
“I know you’re just shaken up since Bulbasaur was knocked out.”
“WHAT!” She stood up. “That’s not why I’m upset your idiot!”
“Then why are you upset!?” Jake asked joining the conversation.
“Yes… you’re right I am upset about Bulbasaur fainting during the battle but I’ve been thinking I’m not gonna become stronger travelling with the two of you. So after today I’m gonna travel alone.”
“Kelly I-” Lucas gasped.
“No she’s right.” Jake agreed. “I’ve been thinking the same thing too.”
“I guess you two are right.” Lucas admitted.

The three stayed the night in the Pokémon Centre. Nurse Joy showed them to their rooms, Lucas & Jake took the bunk bed giving Kelly the single bed. The sheets were decorated with different Pokémon native to Kanto. The next morning Lucas found the room empty with a note left on the table.

“Dear Lucas
Kelly and I decided to leave early and didn’t want to wake you. I’ve decided to go back to the Viridian Forest to train some more and Kelly decided to challenge the gym leader.
See ya later cous, Jake.”

Lucas read as he felt a rush of sadness mixed with independence flow through his body. He sat there for a while, Squirtle and Butterfree by his side. The one thing Lucas knew about Pewter City, besides the fact that there’s a gym somewhere in the city, is that they have a remarkable museum, the Pewter Museum of Science. He decided to make his way to the museum. Lucas has only been to Pewter City once when he was a kid but doesn’t really remember the city, he stopped a girl that was walking by for directions.

“Excuse me.” He said to a girl.
“Yes?”
“I’m looking for the museum do you know where it is?”
“Yeah actually I’m heading that way now, I can show you if you’d like?”
“Thank you.”

He followed the girl to the northern most part of the city. The museum had a variety of archaeological finds, such as ancient tools and fossils of Pokémon. They also have a model of a space shuttle and some Moon Stones on display. Lucas was in awe as he looked around at the different displays.

“They’re amazing aren’t they?” The girl said. “It’s extraordinary to see how people and Pokémon were like years ago. I’m Gwen by the way.”
“Nice to meet you Gwen.” He shook her hand. “I’m Lucas.”
“So I’m guessing you’re not just here to see fossils. You’re here for a gym battle.”
“Yeah but I thought the gym was inside the museum.”
“It used to be until the old gym leader retired. Rockwell, the new gym leader, moved to the university.”
“I don’t suppose you could show me to the university?”
“It’d be my pleasure.”

Before they could leave he could hear people murmuring around a TV at the reception table. There was a Pokémon battle being aired.

“Yeah Rockwell’s gonna win for sure!” One of the kids boasted. “He’s the best!”
“I dunno that girl has a Bulbasaur she has the type advantage!” The other boy beside him chimed.
“Did he say a girl with a Bulbasaur?” He ran to see what was happening. “It’s Kelly!”

Kelly was battling Pewter City Gym Leader Rockwell and appeared to be winning. They were both down to their last Pokémon.

“This next move will surely decide the battle.” The TV commentator said. “But I’m putting my money on the girl for sure!”
“Bulbasaur finish this with razor leaf!” Kelly roared.
“And she’s done it folks up and coming trainer Kelly of Pallet Town has won her first gym badge. Give her a round of applause!”

Lucas walked back to the Gwen with a smile on his face.

“Why are you smiling?” She asked.
“My friend won her first gym battle.” He gleefully said.

The two headed towards the Pewter City University. The campus was huge. Various dorms, buildings and cafés were scattered throughout the area. Gwen took Lucas to one of the cafés. The café was decorated like an old rustic lodge. There were paintings of various fairy and normal type Pokémon.

“This is my favourite spot in Pewter City, besides the museum.” Gwen said as she and Lucas took a seat in one of the booths. “This café makes the best hot chocolate.”
“I’m all for hot chocolate but why aren’t we heading for the gym?”
“Well you’re not the only one who’s here to challenge the gym leader. There’s a queue.”
“Queue?”
“Yeah but it’s not like their waiting in line, they use this app.” She took out her pink/green Pokégear. “Here see. And now we just click this and that and there you are now fourth in line.”
“Wow thanks.” Lucas said as the waitress came over with their hot chocolate. “So are you a student?”
“Yeah I’m studying myths and legends surrounding Pokémon.”
“That must be interesting.”
“It is but I’ve read all the books, seen all the pictures but I just wanna-”
“See the world for yourself.” Lucas finished her sentence.
“How’d you know?”
“I was like you, in school I dreamed of adventure. Just getting out there and see the world and that’s went I decided to become a Pokémon Trainer.”
“Wow!” She sighed. “But my parent’s would disapprove. They never really listened to me. I wanna show you something.”

The two took their hot chocolates to the outside area of the café. They were alone, the café isn’t that busy since Silph Co introduced there chain café to the campus.

“What is it?” Lucas asked eagerly.
“This.” She put her hand in her bag.
“A Poké Ball?” Lucas seemed confused.
“Oh sorry totally forgot. See students aren’t allowed to have Pokémon, only trainers who want to battle the gym leader can bring them onto the campus.”
“Why are you not allowed to have Pokémon.”
“Oh you know the whole if-you-can’t-take-care-of-yourself-you-can’t-take-care-of-a-Pokémon shtick. We are allowed to bring them when semesters finish. We usually do a small tournament to see who got stronger.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun. So what Pokémon do you have?”
“I’ll show you.” She click the button on the ball. “Say hello to my friend Clefairy.”
“A Clefairy they’re really rare to find.”
“Yeah Clefairy and I go way back. She was being attacked by some Zubat in Mt. Moon and I scared them away. Since then we’ve been inseparable.”
“And let me guess no one knows that you have a Pokémon with you.”
“Yes so we keep this hush hush okay.” She gave Clefairy the rest of her hot chocolate.”
“Would you like to meet my Pokémon?”
“Ooh yes please.”
“C’mon out you two.”

Squirtle and Butterfree came out of their Poké Balls and walked over to Clefairy. Immediately the three began to play with each other. Lucas and Gwen let them play around. Lucas had some Pokémon food in his bag which he gave to his Pokémon as well as Clefairy. He handed Gwen the rest of the bag.

“Here you need this more than I do.”
“Oh no I couldn’t take that.” She went red in the face.
“Well if you don’t take it take it for Clefairy. I’m guessing they don’t sell much Pokémon food on campus and she needs more than hot chocolate.” He smiled at Gwen.
“Thank you Lucas.” She put the Pokémon food in her light green tote bag. “Hey looks like it’s your turn!”
“You mean!”
“Yep you ready for your first gym battle?”