A place to call home

As he left the Pewter Gym with Misty, Xia You pointed to the Pewter Science Museum across the street. "The museum here is famous. It's one of Pewter City's major attractions. What do you say? Want to take a look together?"

"Sure." With nothing else to do anyway, Misty agreed without a second thought.

They crossed the street, and the grand museum came into view. Once inside, Xia You bought two tickets and entered the first-floor hall with Misty.

The science museum was divided into two main areas: exhibitions and research. Unfortunately, the research area wasn't open to the public, so visitors could only explore the exhibition area.

The exhibition area occupied two floors. The first housed fossil displays, with rare ancient Pokémon in the various cases. The main attractions were the fossilized skeletons of Aerodactyl and Kabutops.

Misty, however, seemed uninterested in the fossils. She gave each display case only a glance before hurrying past.

"I really don't understand why they display such scary things..."

They went up to the second floor, where the theme shifted to space. Along with historical artifacts and meteorites that had fallen onto the moon's surface, the exhibits even included a model space shuttle!

When Xia You and Misty stopped in front of the model, an old man noticed them lingering and began talking unprompted. "It's been decades since humanity first set foot on the moon. It all passed in the blink of an eye. I hear they're planning to visit the much more distant Red Planet next. News about space always gets me excited, whether it's true or not!"

Xia You and Misty exchanged a smile. After wandering leisurely around the museum a little longer, they left and found a restaurant nearby.

Though the restaurant wasn't fancy, everything from the appetizers to the desserts proved thoroughly satisfying.

During the meal, Xia You listened as Misty recounted how she had met Ash and what had happened to her unfortunate bicycle.

"You really should have seen the sorry state it was in." Even now, Misty was still resentful. "I'd only just bought that bike! I rode it for one day, and he turned it into charcoal!"

"So you're going to keep following him until he pays you back?"

"That's part of the reason." Misty smiled. "My goal is to become a Water-type Pokémon Master, and traveling around is the best shortcut!"

Xia You smiled and chatted along. Although he had already seen it in the anime, hearing the story again from Misty herself felt quite different.

When they returned to the Pokémon Center that evening, Ash was still nowhere to be seen.

Misty couldn't help asking, "Ash... hasn't already left, has he?"

"That's impossible." Xia You shook his head. "He won't leave Pewter City until he beats Brock. Tonight at the earliest, tomorrow morning at the latest, I think he'll show up and challenge the Pewter Gym again!"

Just as Xia You had predicted, after a night's rest, he and Misty saw Ash again while eating breakfast in the dining area. Though he looked exhausted, he was brimming with energy.

"Ash!" Misty waved him over. "Where did you run off to yesterday?"

"Sorry for worrying you." Ash plopped down at their table and hastily stuffed a few mouthfuls of food into his mouth. "Yesterday, I met an older guy named Brock outside the gym. Pikachu and I went through some special charging training at his place."

"An older guy named Brock? Charging training?" Misty blinked. "But even then, an Electric-type like Pikachu can't beat Brock."

"How will I know if I don't try?" Ash said unconcernedly, full of fighting spirit. "Besides, today's Pikachu is completely different from yesterday's!"

"Oh?" Misty remained skeptical. "Is that really true? Then I'll look forward to seeing it."

Wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin, Xia You suddenly said, "Good luck, Ash. Unfortunately, I won't be able to witness that moment."

"Why not?" Ash asked in surprise.

Instead of answering directly, Xia You asked, "Your goal is to compete in the Indigo Conference, right?"

When Ash nodded, Xia You glanced at his Pokémon and said earnestly, "Then that makes us rivals. And I have my own path to follow, too. It's time I headed for the next city with a gym."

"Huh? You're leaving already?" Misty was reluctant to see him go. Although she hadn't known Xia You long, spending time with him had been easy and enjoyable.

After a day together, she could also tell that he was gentle and considerate, with a good sense of humor.

"Don't be so sad," Xia You said with a smile. "Kanto may be big, but we share the same goal. We're bound to meet again sooner or later. Who knows? We might see each other in the next city or at the next gym."

After returning to Vermilion City, Xia You went straight to the Cerise Laboratory.

"Thank you for making that long trip," Professor Cerise said when he saw Xia You. "Professor Oak called me after you delivered the Prototype. He spent so long singing your praises that even I felt a little embarrassed."

Just then, Chloe came in from outside with her schoolbag on her back.

Looking at Eevee, Squirtle, and Charmander, she couldn't help exclaiming, "You've already caught so many Pokémon?"

"That's right. I've got all the starter Pokémon now. Next, I just need to catch one more to complete my team." As he spoke, Xia You beckoned to the Pokémon who hadn't met Chloe before. "This is Chloe. Come say hello to her."

She stroked their foreheads one by one. Then her eyes lit up when she saw Kirlia, and she walked over and crouched down in front of the Pokémon.

"So this is Kirlia's new form? You're adorable!"

At Chloe's compliment, Kirlia bowed to her. That quiet, well-mannered gesture surprised Chloe so much that she covered her mouth.

Watching Chloe and the Pokémon getting along so happily, Professor Cerise said, "By the way, Xia You, I've arranged a room for you here at the laboratory. You won't have to stay at the Pokémon Center anymore. Cerise Park is finished, too, so you can leave your Pokémon there from now on!"

"Cerise Park?" Xia You was taken aback.

Professor Cerise pointed out the window. "Look. It's right over there."

Following Professor Cerise's finger, Xia You saw a huge hemispherical dome made of reinforced glass standing behind the Cerise Laboratory.

It resembled a transparent cover, beneath which he could see streams and pools, hills and valleys, and a dense forest.