The first rays of sunlight painted the dirt path gold as we stepped out from the Pokémon Center. The air smelled of dew and damp earth, the kind of crisp morning that made you want to take a deep breath just to taste it.
Skitty and Vulpix had opted to stay in their Pokéballs after yesterday's grueling training session—apparently even the Center's healing couldn't cure their desire for extra sleep. I didn't blame them, I know how training can get, in my past life, I started jogging, when I pushed myself I always regretted it the next day.
A Hoothoot watched us from a gnarled oak, its round eyes blinking slowly. It reminded me of an old man judging kids for being too loud on his lawn.
Mew, still in her "Miu" disguise, had been chattering nonstop since breakfast. At first, her stories about ancient Alolan surfing traditions were fascinating, but after the third tangent about "the proper way to eat malasada while riding a Lapras," it all blurred into white noise.
I straightened my outfit in the morning light - the same one I'd picked out at Pewter City on my first day, along with others. A short-sleeved black compression shirt hugged my torso, layered under a dark blue zip-up hoodie with white accent stripes along the arms. My fingerless gloves had reinforced palms, already scuffed from Skitty's claws during play. The coffee brown cargo pants were sturdy enough for hiking but loose enough for active movements. A black and yellow utility belt held my Pokéballs.
Mew, on the other hand, spun in front of me, her outfit was a completely different aesthetic. She wore a pastel pink hoodie with sleeves slightly too long, the cuffs swallowing her hands unless she flicked them back dramatically. Underneath, a white top displayed tiny, nearly invisible Pokéball prints that shimmered when she moved. Her knee length denim shorts had frayed threads at the ends that never unraveled further, no matter how much she tugged at them—still no shoes, not that she needed them.
"You're not even listening, are you?" Mew poked my cheek.
"Not for the last twenty minutes," I admitted, swatting her hand away.
She gasped dramatically. "And here I was about to reveal the secret to psychic-type pancake flipping!"
I chuckled at that, I actually appreciated Mew's talking, I didn't trust myself with my own thoughts right now.
The rapid crunch of footsteps made us both turn. A girl around my age skidded to a stop behind us, kicking up a small dust cloud. She wore a modified rock-climbing harness over a sleeveless orange hoodie, her dark brown hair tied up in a messy ponytail with what looked like... were those Geodude-shaped hair clips?
The girl straightened up, brushing dust off her cargo pants with hands wrapped in fingerless climbing gloves.
"Name's Terra," she said. "I'm prepping for my Gym challenge at Cerulean and your Skitty's speed could give my Sandshrew some good training." She pulled a well-worn Pokéball from her belt, its surface scratched from what looked like rock tumbles rather than battles. "What do you say? Quick one-on-one?"
Mew leaned in, her whisper carrying just enough for Terra to hear: "She's been tailing us since breakfast. Saw her hiding behind the vending machines."
Terra's cheeks flushed. "I was buying juice!"
"Three hours ago," Mew deadpanned.
I bit back a laugh. The girl's appearance gave off some experienced trainer vibes - the way her boots were caked in dried mud, how her hoodie had a hastily patched tear from what was probably a fire, seeing the burn marks. This was probably a league registered trainer, seeing as she mentioned challenging a gym.
"Alright," I said, unclipping Skitty's ball. "This is my second battle, but don't underestimate us."
Terra's responding grin was all teeth. "Oh, we won't go easy at all."
We both released our Pokémon and the battle started.
"Open with Tail Whip!" I called the moment Terra released her Sandshrew. Skitty's tail lashed in hypnotic arcs even as I gave the next order: "Follow with Growl, keep the pressure!"
The combo hit perfectly. Sandshrew's defensive stance slackened, his claws retracting slightly as Skitty's rumbling Growl washed over him.
"Shake it off, then use Fury Cutter!" Terra countered.
I saw Sandshrew's claws glow green and acted fast. "Dodge left then Tackle!"
Skitty pivoted, too slow. The glowing claws grazed her cheek, but she rebounded with a full-force Tackle that sent Sandshrew skidding.
"Poison Sting barrage!" Terra shouted.
"Dodge, then use tackle!" I countered.
Skitty blurred between the purple spikes, closing the distance as Sandshrew hesitated—
*Crack!*
A second Tackle landed clean. But Sandshrew curled into an armored ball before the third strike could connect.
"Rollout!"
The spinning sphere came fast. "Evade and prepare to counter!" I ordered, but then—
A shimmering pink paw print flared between Skitty's ears. She unleashed a sound I'd never heard before, a resonating growl that made the air vibrate. Sandshrew's roll faltered.
Skitty let off a thunderous bellow hit like a physical force. Sandshrew uncurled violently, just in time for a final, crushing Tackle.
Sandshrew skidded across the dirt, finally coming to a stop in a limp heap. The battle was over.
Skitty stood tall, her cream-colored fur ruffled but her eyes bright with triumph. With a proud "Mrow!" she leapt into my waiting arms, purring like a motorboat. Across the field, Mew bounced up and down with genuine cheer.
Terra returned her Sandshrew with a quiet click of the Pokéball, her lips quirking into a small, satisfied smile. She approached, her boots kicking up little puffs of dust, and held out a hand.
"Congrats," she said as I shook it. Her palm was rough with callouses. "That was a good fight."
She released my hand and jerked a thumb toward the looming entrance of Mt. Moon. "Anyway, I've wasted enough of your time. I'm headed into the caves. Looks like you're taking the path around?"
I nodded.
"Then let's meet up in Cerulean," she said, already turning away. "I'll treat ya."
"I'd like that, yeah," I said, adjusting Skitty in my arms.
I didn't catch Mew's amused grin at my response.
With a casual wave over her shoulder as she turned around, she called, "Cool. Anyway, gotta go. Later!"
And just like that, she was gone, disappearing into the shadowy mouth of the cave.
We turned back toward the path leading to the forest. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the dirt road with shifting patterns of gold and green. I put Skitty down as I checked the map. According to the book 'Know Your Region' that officer Jenny gave me, this stretch was home to battle-hungry Pokémon, but its reputation paled next to Viridian's infamous wilderness. The silence suggested we might have the trail to ourselves.
As we walked, Skitty trotted ahead, her tail held high with newfound confidence. I watched her for a moment before turning to Mew.
"That move Skitty used at the end—what was it?"
Mew tilted her head. "Assist," she said. "It copies a random move from someone in your party. Guess she pulled Roar from Vulpix's repertoire."
I nodded slowly, watching Skitty stretch in a sunbeam ahead of us. We'd gotten lucky—if Assist had pulled anything but Roar from Vulpix's moveset, the battle might've ended very differently.
A memory surfaced: Vulpix's thunderous bark-scream yesterday morning, how Skitty had practically teleported out of my arms in alarm. "So that's what Vulpix used to scare Skitty," I muttered.
Mew grinned, kicking a pebble that somehow arced backward. "Bingo. Foxes love their dramatics." She paused, eyes glinting. "Though between us? Your Skitty's got a stronger set of lungs."
Ahead of us, the aforementioned Skitty sneezed on a pollen cloud, then immediately tried to chase it.
The forest swallowed us whole—canopy thickening, sunlight fracturing into dappled gold on the dirt path. It was quieter here than I expected. No rustling in the underbrush, no distant cries of wild Pokémon. Just the creak of ancient trees and the crunch of our footsteps.
Mew hummed, tapping her glowing sneakers together. The left one flickered. "So," she said, too casually, "think we'll run into that Terra girl again?"
I adjusted my belt. "She said she was taking the caves."
"Mm. And we're taking the 'safe' path." Mew's grin widened as she floated half an inch off the ground—just enough to avoid a mud puddle. "Guess that means we'll see her in Cerulean."
Something in Mew's tone made me side-eye her. "You know something."
"Me?" She pressed a hand to her chest, her smile widening into something far too innocent. "Nooo, I know nothing." Her eyes showed way too much mirth for that to be true.
I narrowed my eyes. "You're a terrible liar."
Mew gasped, clutching imaginary pearls. "I'm shocked you'd accuse me of such a thing." Then, with a sly glance toward the distant silhouette of the Mt. Moon cave, she added, "Though, if I did know something… it'd be hilarious."
I waited.
She didn't elaborate.
Instead, she twirled on her toes—hovering just a fraction too long to be natural—and hummed a jaunty tune. Ahead of us, Skitty sneezed again, scattering more pollen into the air.
Mew's grin sharpened. "So… Cerulean, huh? Should I pack a nice outfit for you?"
"Why?"
"No reason~"
I sighed, adjusting my bandana. Whatever she was scheming, I'd find out eventually.
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AN: So yeah, here's another chapter, Terra is a league registered trainer, but her Sandshrew was recently caught, despite what her Pokéball shows, she has more Pokémon though, well see her when we get to Cerulean, anyway I assume you know what Mew is hiding, Ren hasn't noticed because he has a lot on his mind, we get our second battle with Skitty, Vulpix will get her chance soon.
If you have any advice on improvements, please inform me.
Anyway, enjoy.