With nowhere else to go, Dongshu simply followed Ash and Misty to a nearby inn and rested there for the night.
Early the next morning, Ash and Misty prepared to leave Viridian City and head to Pewter City to challenge the Gym and collect badges.
Before parting, Ash and Pikachu looked at Dongshu and Fire Emperor and could not help but invite him.
"Dongshu, are you really not coming with us to Pewter City?"
Dongshu shook his head. "No, Ash. I still have some things to take care of in Viridian City. I can only leave once I'm done."
He needed to go to the cemetery and pay his respects to the human parents he had in this life.
"All right, then." Ash looked somewhat disappointed. Thinking back to their reunion the night before, he scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm really sorry. It was too dark last night, so I didn't recognize you right away..."
"It's okay, Ash. As long as you remember me now." Dongshu smiled.
"Yeah, I won't forget this time!" Ash nodded seriously.
Listening to their conversation from the side, Misty could not help but cut in.
"Um... Dongshu, you're not planning to challenge the Tokiwa Gym right away, are you?"
"The Tokiwa Gym?" Ash froze for a moment. Before Dongshu could answer, he spoke up first.
Misty nodded and explained, "Yeah, there's also a Gym here in Viridian City. Its Gym Leader is Mr. Sakaki, and he's incredibly strong—one of the very best in the entire Kanto Region."
"More importantly, the Tokiwa Gym is extremely difficult to challenge. It's simply not suitable for rookie Trainers who don't have a single badge yet."
"That's why many Trainers wait until they've collected the other seven Gym Badges before coming here to challenge it. Some even give up on